Man Found Guilty in Landlord's Death

Shelby County, TN—A Shelby County jury has found Robert Collins guilty of shooting and killing his landlord following a dispute over rent and property maintenance. The verdict was returned on Saturday, concluding an almost weeklong trial.

The incident occurred on November 16, 2021, at a small building in the 600 block of East Shelby Drive, where Collins both worked on vehicles and occasionally stayed. Collins had been several months behind on rent to Ernest Hatton, 50, and had failed to maintain the property as agreed.

Investigators said that when Hatton arrived at the location that afternoon, Collins fired multiple gunshots at him, striking Hatton more than a dozen times. Hatton was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Police reported that Collins approached officers at the scene and admitted to shooting Hatton. A witness told investigators that prior to the incident, Collins had said that if Hatton came to see him, he “had something for him.”

Collins represented himself during the trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Carrie Bush and Susan Taylor.