Metro makes arrest in slaying of Minnesota man

A Minnesota man known in poker circles was trying to buy 10 pounds of marijuana when he was shot and killed by a man during the drug deal, according to a Las Vegas police arrest report.

John Cyril Collins, 39, of Lake Crystal, Minn., was slain May 11, the same day he and his girlfriend, Julie Kneisl, drove from Colorado after a drug deal there “fell through,” the report said. Collins often competed in Deaf Poker Tour tournaments in Las Vegas.

The shooter hasn’t been identified, but on Thursday, police arrested Rufus Anthony Smith III, 27, linking him to the killing, jail logs show. He was booked at Clark County Detention Center on one count of murder, as well as drug and kidnapping charges.

Smith was acquainted with the couple, although they knew him only as “Richard,” according to his arrest report. Metro said Collins believed Smith could get him a “large quantity of marijuana.”

The couple picked up Smith when they arrived in Las Vegas the morning of May 11, the report said. They drove to an apartment complex at 3601 Cambridge St., near the intersection of Swenson Street and Twain Avenue, where they picked up the man police said would later shoot Collins.

Collins, Kneisl, Smith and the shooter — whom Metro could identify only as a black man — got in Collins’ 2006 Cadillac sedan and drove about a mile to 625 South Royal Crest Circle, police said.

Smith told the couple, who were sitting in the front seat of the vehicle, to wait there, police said. When Smith got out, the shooter, who was sitting in the back seat, pointed a gun at the back of Collins’ head. When Collins tried to get out of the car, there was a struggle and the shooter fired and struck him.

He died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center a short time later. The coroner’s office said Collins was hit in the chest.

The shooter then pointed the gun at Kneisl, she told police, but she batted the gun with her hand.

Smith and the shooter ran away, police said. They left behind Collins’ duffel bag, which held $7,880 cash.

Metro served a search warrant at the apartment complex where the couple and Smith picked up the shooter. There they found low caliber bullets and torn pieces of paper they later learned were used by Collins and Kneisl, who also is deaf, to communicate with Smith and the shooter.

Las Vegas police tracked down Smith through a phone number provided by Kneisl, the report said. The number was registered to Smith, who used it to call several inmates at Clark County Detention Center.

Kneisl identified Smith through a photo lineup and charges were filed May 28.

Anyone with information about this case should contact Metro’s homicide section at 702-828-3521 or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips leading directly to an arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.