Darnell Collins

Mwanza Atiba Kamau (April 5, 1962 – June 21, 1995), better known as Darnell Collins, was an American recidivist and spree killer who shot and killed seven people and wounded three others in New Jersey and New York over four days in June 1995. The spree came to an end once Collins was surrounded by law enforcement in Nutley, New Jersey, who promptly killed him.

Early life Collins was born in New York City on April 5, 1962. Since his father was killed during the Vietnam War, Collins was raised by his mother in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In 1984, Collins was detained for six crimes committed in New Jersey. This subsequently led to convictions on armed robbery and burglary, and Collins was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was paroled on January 11, 1994, after serving ten years in prison. Afterwards he stuffed her body in the back of his car and drove three blocks down to the house of Alicia Chappell, where April Gates was partying for her friend's birthday.

New York Collins' spree had alarmed outer-state police forces and authorities in New York feared he might have been sheltering there. New Jersey officials contacted the New York Police Department (NYPD) and informed them that Collins might be hiding with his aunt in her home in Harlem. However, once seized and searched upon, this theory was proven to be untrue.

Aftermath Upon the end of Collins' spree, questions began to be raised about his parole officer John Goodman and why he didn't take action in response to Collins' parole violations, as Collins was considered a dangerous criminal and habitual re-offender. This led to allegations that Goodman had neglected his position, and after undergoing an administrative hearing on October 19, the court agreed and Goodman was stripped of his position in January 1996.