Article by the 10th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney.
A Drew County jury convicted Taiwan Collins on September 2, 2026, of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of committing a terroristic act following a two-day jury trial.
The convictions stemmed from a December 3, 2023, shooting at the old Wilmar High School that left two people dead.
Agents with the Arkansas State Police and the Drew County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting, which occurred shortly after a party concluded at approximately 2:10 a.m. The City of Wilmar uses the former high school as a community center and has rented the facility for events in the past.
Jurors heard testimony from witnesses at the scene and learned that officers arrived at the school to find the bodies of Suquorey Pitts and Independence Young.
Arkansas State Police Special Agent Bo Norris testified that investigators collected approximately 100 shell casings while processing the scene. The shell casings were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for firearms and tool mark examinations, while the bodies were sent to the state medical examiner’s office to determine the causes of death.
Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Teddi Tubre testified that both Pitts and Young died from gunshot wounds. Additional testimony indicated that multiple firearms were used during the shooting, suggesting that multiple individuals fired weapons.
After finding Collins guilty, the jury heard additional testimony during the sentencing phase concerning the victims and the defendant.
Circuit Judge Robert Gibson III then sent the jury to deliberate on punishment.
The jury recommended a 25-year sentence for the murder of Pitts, 20 years for the murder of Young and 12 years for the terroristic act conviction. Jurors also recommended that all three sentences run concurrently.
Judge Gibson followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Collins to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain expressed his gratitude to the jury for its time and attention to the case.
Spain also stated that, based on the law in effect at the time the offenses were committed, Collins will be required to serve 70% of his sentence before becoming eligible for release.
