A late-night shooting at the This and That Lounge on South Main Street in Sylvester, Georgia, claimed the life of 53-year-old James Otis Collins in the early hours of March 23, 2024. Collins, born and raised in Sylvester and educated in Worth County Public Schools, was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot at about 3 a.m. His body was taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for an autopsy.

A joint inquiry by the Sylvester Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation led to an arrest two days later. On March 25, 2024, authorities arrested 43-year-old Juamarino White at a Covey Street residence; investigators say White was believed to be the person who fired the fatal shots. White was charged with felony voluntary manslaughter, felony tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Collins was remembered by family and friends for his love of motorcycles and cars and as a devoted father, brother, and friend. The shooting also raised questions about security at the This and That Lounge on the night of the incident. If anyone has information about the shooting or about Collins that could help the investigation, please come forward.