Chattanooga, TN – The Chattanooga Police Department has taken the third and final suspect into custody in connection with the July 20, 2025 homicide of a 15-year-old male on Read Avenue.
Eighteen-year-old Eric Collier turned himself in last night and is now held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. Collier, along with 18-year-olds Malik Allen and Mauricio Velasquez, faces charges of second degree murder related to the incident in the 1700 block of Read Avenue.
The homicide occurred just after midnight on July 20, when police responded to reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers encountered additional gunfire and found the 15-year-old victim deceased from a gunshot wound. Multiple individuals were detained at the scene.
Malik Allen was arrested that same day and charged with second degree murder. The following day, Mauricio Velasquez was taken into custody by the Chattanooga Police Fugitive Unit with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office. Velasquez is currently being held at the Catoosa County Jail and will be extradited to Hamilton County at a later time.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police continue to ask anyone with information about the case to contact the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525.
Authorities caution that the charges against the three suspects are accusations and not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt through due process of law.