Eddie Eugene Collins (Photo courtesy of Lee County Florida Sheriff Department)
KILLEN-State investigators have been called in to investigate the two fatalities from the 2:00 pm shootout SWAT and police had with a gunman who was holed up in the Super 8 Motel with his estranged wife.
Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are investigating the officer-involved shooting, involving multiple agencies, at the request of Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler and Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton.
The incident was the result of a standoff that began Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Super 8 Motel in Killen, and ended at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7. The incident resulted in two fatalities.
Venita Keen
The gunman Eddie Eugene Collins, 43, was pronounced dead on the scene, and his estranged wife Venita Christine Keen was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly.
“This is normal protocol when there is an officer-involved shooting,” said Chief Tyler. The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
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