Man charged with attempted murder following Charles Town invasion

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A man faces numerous charges including attempted murder after an early morning home invasion Tuesday.

Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty says Devin Collins, 19, of Charles Town, broke into a house in Uvilla Estates around 1:45 a.m.

Dougherty said investigators believe Collins had a relationship with one of the eight people living in the home and was specifically targeting someone when he chased three of the occupants to an upstairs bedroom.

“It is not a random act of violence and it was not targeted, as best we can tell, for theft,” Dougherty said during Panhandle Live Tuesday.

Collins made entry into the house after firing numerous shots into the house prior to gaining entry, he also fired numerous times into the locked bedroom door.

“We believe that he fired 20 to 30 rounds at and into the house,” Dougherty said.
“We’re very fortunate that no one had any injury that required any hospitalization.”

Collins lost his weapon after being struck and retreated out of the house where he was met by Sheriff’s deputies and surrendered without further incident.

A search of the area revealed Collins had placed a sawed off shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition outside the house.

Collins is being charged with numerous crimes including: three counts of attempted murder; eight counts of Wanton Endangerment; one count of burglary; and one count of use or possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.





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