Venita Keen

How they died

Deadly force

U.S. Marshals and Lauderdale County deputies went to a motel to serve a warrant on Eddie Collins. Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Richard Richey said the officers identified themselves, and the suspect fired a shot through the door. According to law enforcement, Collins tried to escape through the backdoor. Richey said he then fired several shots at the officers, went back inside and locked the door. Police say Collin's was a fugitive from Florida and was wanted for firing a missile or weapon into a other or dwelling and four counts of aggregated assault with a deadly weapon. He was eventually killed, presumably, by police. A woman in his room, Venita Keen, was also killed, again, it's uncertain who fired the fatal shot.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Venita Keen, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources