published: Sunday, February 03, 2013

Man slain, cops search for suspect

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

SEBRING - Just after midnight Friday morning Sebring Police Department and EMS arrived to a gruesome scene at 755 Lemon Ave. in the Washington Heights area.

Johnny Theodore Thomas, 33, of Sebring was found lying on the ground near the property. The Sebring Police Department press release stated that "Thomas had what appeared to be a gun shot wound to the face."

EMS was enroute to a nearby hospital when Thomas was pronounced deceased.

SPD began investigations on scene and located a witness who named 19-year-old Dwayne Alexis Collins as the shooter, according to reports. The suspect has prior arrests with the SPD for misdemeanors and a resisting arrest without violence charge in 2012.

The case is continuing to be investigated by SPD. An arrest warrant has been issued for Collins. The suspect had not been located at the time of press.

Anyone with any information regarding the case or the whereabouts of the suspect - Dewayne A. Collins (D.O.B. 3/4/1994) - may anonymously contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 or text "TIPS196" plus information to "CRIMES" (274637).

Information may also be given to Detective Thomas Gillard at SPD 471-5108 or Highlands County Sheriff's Dispatch Center 402-7200.