Marion man found guilty in I-40 road rage shooting

Collins, 19, convicted of capital murder in death of Kentucky man in 2023

By Kolton Rutherford

Paxton News Bureau

A Faulkner County jury has found a Marion man guilty of capital murder.

Dylan Collins, 19, will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Jan. 14, 2023, killing of Arva Wilkerson, a Kentucky man traveling near Interstate 40 in Mayflower.

Jurors deliberated the case for less than one hour, 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Carol Crews told the Log Cabin Democrat.

On Jan. 14, 2023, Wilkerson called 911 “to report a car driving 100 miles per hour and provided a partial license plate number of that vehicle,” Crews said. Per the arrest affidavit, Wilkerson told the 911 dispatcher that the driver “must have made him because it was slowing down” before the dispatcher and Wilkerson disconnected the call.

“Minutes later, eyewitnesses saw a man pull over on the entrance ramp and get out of a neutral-colored Hyundai and begin shooting into Mr. Wilkerson’s F-150,” Crews said.

The shooter was later identified as Collins. Crews said Collins “fired at least 13 shots” into Wilkerson’s truck on the I-40 entrance ramp, striking him three times.

“The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office would like to extend our gratitude to the Mayflower Police Department, especially Lt. Taylor Decker who demonstrated superior skill, determination and thoroughness in solving this case,” Crews said. “We are thankful to the members of the jury who listened to the evidence and applied the law to the facts presented to render a just verdict in this case, and the Honorable Troy Braswell for ensuring that both sides received a fair trial.”

Crews added that several community members stopped to help Wilkerson after the shooting.

“In such a traumatic time, these individuals demonstrated selflessness and compassion that is appreciated by this office, the law enforcement community and the victim’s family,” Crews said.

Investigators spent weeks working the case before they arrested Collins on March 1, 2023. Collins told investigators that the shooting was an act of self defense after he claimed that Wilkerson was following him.

“[Collins] said he pulled off the Mayflower exit ramp and then got back onto the onramp, with the truck continuing to follow him,” the detective said, per the arrest affidavit. “He said he then stopped [and] got out to confront the driver. He said that when he exited his car, the driver of the blue Ford made a movement to his side that Dylan took as a threat and ‘started shooting.’” Collins admitted to officers that he shot the gun “about 13 times,” adding that he never saw Wilkerson holding a gun.

He also said that he “destroyed” the gun he used, a Glock 19 9mm. A gun of the same type was later found in Collins’ bedroom in Marion.

Following the killing, Collins changed his phone and phone number. He told investigators he didn’t call 911 to report Wilkerson following him because “man, what is 911 going to do?”

“Throughout the interview, Collins showed no remorse or guilt for the shooting,” the detective said. “He maintained that it was in self defense and that his changing his phone and phone number, leaving the scene of the shooting, not notifying law enforcement and getting rid of the gun did not have anything to do with him being guilty of any crime. Dylan stated that he was on his way to Fayetteville, Arkansas, on the day of the shooting just to ‘drive around’ and that the shooting messed up those plans.”

Crews said Collins’ conviction sends “a clear message that this office will continue to pursue aggressive verdicts against those who choose to commit violent and senseless crimes in Faulkner County.”

Photo courtesy of the Log Cabin Democrat

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