Man arrested in May shooting death

By Pashtana Usufzy

Monday, June 8, 2015 | 3:51 p.m.

A 27-year-old man was arrested Thursday in connection with the May shooting death of another man during an attempted drug deal, according to an arrest report.

Rufus Anthony Smith III is being charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, first-degree kidnapping and murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the May 11 death of 39-year-old Jonathan Cyril Collins, according to a criminal complaint.

He is also facing charges in a separate drug-related case from last year, according to Clark County court records.

Collins was shot in the chest at a condominium complex parking lot, located in the 600 block of South Royal Crest Circle, near Twain Avenue and Swenson Street, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office and Metro Police.

He and his girlfriend arrived in Las Vegas that morning in a 2006 black, four-door Cadillac with Minnesota license plates, according to the arrest report.

Collins' place of residence has not been confirmed by the Clark County Coroner's Office.

The couple had secured a deal to purchase a "large quantity" of marijuana in Colorado, but that fell through, the report said.

Collins then contacted an acquaintance in Las Vegas to purchase 10 pounds of the drug, according to the report.

Collins and his girlfriend arrived in town and picked up the man, known as "Richard," at a 7-Eleven, and they drove to an apartment in the 3800 block of Cambridge Street, near East Twain Avenue, according to the report.

The phone number Collins texted to secure the marijuana was traced back to Smith, and the girlfriend identified him as "Richard" in a photo lineup, the report alleges.

At the apartment they met an unnamed male, and the four of them got into the Cadillac, which contained a duffel bag with $7,880 in it, the report said.

Collins drove to the condominium complex on South Royal Crest Circle, and as "Richard" got out of the car, the unnamed male pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the back of Collins' head, the report said.

Collins tried to escape, and the male shot him before pointing the gun at Collins' girlfriend, who was able to avoid the weapon, the report said.

The unidentified male and "Richard" then fled the scene, police said.

Collins was taken to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Smith is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. June 22, jail records show.

His attorney was not immediately available for comment.