Daquela Collins stood in a Milwaukee courtroom ahead of the weekend as the gallery erupted the second the judge announced her prison term.
The Judge Warns Family
The 27-year-old mother faced the consequences of her choices while her family screamed and cried in the gallery. Deputies placed Daquela Collins in handcuffs as the room fell into chaos.
Judge Michelle Havas warned the screaming crowd to “knock it off” as guards escorted her away according to Court TV.
Her defense attorney wanted probation. The judge gave her three years in state prison instead, followed by three years of extended supervision.
A Little Boy Shot Himself
The case began on April 1, 2025. Six-year-old Da’Quell “King” Collins found an unsecured 9mm handgun inside his home. He picked up the firearm and shot himself in the head.
Investigators learned that Daquela Collins didn’t just leave a gun around. She bought it illegally for someone else. According to a criminal complaint cited by TMJ4, she purchased the weapon for her brother, Quintell Collins.
Quintell Should Not Have Had A Firearm
Quintell was a convicted felon. Federal and state laws barred him from owning any firearms. By buying the gun for him, she committed a crime known as a straw purchase, which is designed to prevent prohibited people from obtaining firearms.
Daquela pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including straw purchasing a firearm and neglecting a child resulting in death.
A Rap Video and a High-Speed Chase
Her brother’s actions on the day of the shooting added even more grief to the situation.
On the morning of the tragedy, Quintell filmed an Instagram video. He rapped and waved two guns around while young Da’Quell stood in the background, according to coverage by FOX6 News.
When his nephew shot himself, Quintell didn’t stay to help. He ran out of the house and hid a gun in a nearby alley.
Then he fled in a car. Police chased him for four miles as he hit speeds of 83 mph, ran red lights, and threw cash out the window before officers finally caught him.
In May 2026, a court sentenced Quintell to 17 years in prison and 14 years of extended supervision. He pleaded guilty to child neglect, illegal gun possession, and reckless endangerment.
Viewers React
When Law&Crime Trials aired the sentencing, online viewers reacted with sharp criticism toward the gallery’s outbursts.
One viewer wrote, “You woulda thought she got life the way the family reacted. 3 years considering how reckless and ignorant she was is very light.”
Another person asked, “Where is the sorrow and outrage for the sweet little boy?”
Next, this comment arrived: “What is all the screaming and crying about? She should have gotten at least 10 years.”
Justice Served or Too Lenient?
The case highlights the dangers prosecutors say can result from illegal straw purchases of firearms. Here, it cost a child his life.
Judge Havas pointed to the severe disregard for gun laws when she handed down the sentence. She made it clear that probation wasn’t an option when a child died as a direct result of reckless choices.
It took three years of prison time to settle the legal record for Daquela Collins. Many viewers said the sentence could never undo the loss of a six-year-old child’s life.
Your thoughts? Join the discussion and then check back for more true crime news and updates. Remember, we also have a TikTok crime channel that you can follow.