GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — The mother and family of the teens murdered in a Garner arson and murder investigation have filed a complaint against a Wake County Sheriff’s deputy for “failure to properly investigate.”

The investigation began the morning of June 24, when first responders from the Garner Fire Department arrived at a house on Rand Road in Garner. During a search of the home, firefighters found the bodies of River Collins, 15, his brother Jet, 13, and their father, Shannon Collins.

An autopsy revealed the teens’ cause of death was not fire related, and showed the brothers and father had been shot.

The complaint document, filed by the teenager’s mother Kerrith McDowell and other family members, claims the deputy sent to the Garner home the day before the fire did not conduct a proper investigation.

“[The deputy] failed to conduct a thorough investigation and dismissed the incident as ‘conflicting reports’ without proper documentation or follow-up investigation, as required by domestic violence protocols,” the complaint states.

The complaint goes on to claim the deputy ignored Shannon Collin’s history of suicidal threats, involuntary psychiatric commitments and other cases of erratic behavior.

In addition to claiming the deputy failed to properly investigate the domestic violence situation, the document claims the deputy failed to secure a firearm in a high-risk domestic violence situation.

“Despite an involuntary psychiatric commitment in 2024 in Wake County and repeated 911 calls to the Rand Road property regarding Shannon Collins’ suicidal threats, no weapons check or firearm removal was conducted by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office,” the complaint reads.

The document claims Shannon Collins meets the criteria outlined in North Carolina General Statute § 50B3.1 and federal law 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(4), but despite these laws being in place, it said, “Shannon Collins purchased a firearm in 2022 and had the firearm registered and, in his possession, until he used it to kill himself and his two sons on June 24, 2025.”

The document also states the deputy was informed on June 24, about a a possible firearm being in the house.

“Additionally, Deputy Giles was specifically informed on June 24, 2025, at 01:10 hours by a retired law enforcement officer (Christopher McDowell) of the possible presence of a firearm in the residence and the subject’s psychiatric history,” the document reads.

Kerrith McDowell also told several medical and law enforcement personnel about a possible firearm in the home, the complaint said. The document goes on to claim the deputy failed to conduct a weapons check mandated by office policy, conduct firearm removal procedures, document the concern about the firearm and follow up on potential state and federal firearm violations.

“The firearm that should have been removed was subsequently used by Shannon Collins to murder River Collins and Jet Collins (the minor children) and in Shannon Collins’ suicide,” the complaint states.

The complaint claims the deputy was presented with credible information outlining a threat to the family’s safety, but ignored it. It also states the deputy did not adequately respond to weapons in a domestic violence situation.

The document said, “[The deputy]’s response violated established protocols by failing to recognize prohibited person status under state and federal law, not conducting mandatory weapons screening in domestic violence case, ignoring clear indicators of escalating violence risk and failing to utilize available legal mechanisms for emergency firearm removal.”

The specific policies listed as being violated by the complaint are:

• Wake County Sherid’s Odice Policy – Domestic Violence Response
• N.C.G.S. § 50B-3.1 – Surrender and Disposal of Firearms
• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(4) – Federal Firearm Prohibition
• Wake County Sherid’s Odice Weapons Removal Procedures

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said they are unaware of any lawsuit filed, and sent a statement to CBS 17 that reads as follows:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding this matter. To date, we are unaware of a lawsuit filed against this office. Any complaints against personnel are governed by state personnel law, which precludes us from discussing or sharing it.

We can assure you that we take all complaints seriously and investigate them thoroughly. It is the goal of this office to provide the highest level of service to our community. The case is still an active investigation, and we do not have any further details to release. 

When responding to any call for service, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office makes every effort to operate within the bounds of applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards, and we routinely review our practices to ensure alignment with those requirements.

Our agency extends our deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

Wake County Sheriff’s Office