April Gates was 30 and working as a blackjack dealer when she was killed on June 17, 1995, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

April and Collins had ended their relationship in January 1995. In June, April reported Collins for a parole violation and a judge issued a restraining order on June 15, 1995, barring him from contacting her. On June 17 Collins went to the Gates home; April was not there. He allegedly tied up Shirley and fatally shot her, then put her body in his car and drove to a birthday party where April was attending. Witnesses at the party say Collins shot April in front of guests, striking her once in the ear and twice in the stomach; she was presumed dead at the scene. Collins then fled in April’s vehicle and was later killed in a confrontation with law enforcement on June 21, 1995, in Nutley, New Jersey; he was the sole suspect.

If anyone knew April or Shirley, or has information about the events of June 17, please come forward with what you remember.