Illegal machine gun seized by police when arresting Athens carjacking suspect

By Joe Johnson

Athens-Clarke County police said they recently seized an illegal machine gun when arresting a suspect in a carjacking that occurred two years ago.

Demetrius Ja' Qain Collins, 18, was arrested the afternoon of Nov. 22 at Parkview Homes off of West Broad Street, according to police. A subsequent search of an apartment there located four guns, including a semiautomatic 9mm pistol that had been illegally converted to a fully-automatic firearm, police said.

This photo shows a brass switch that modifies the weapon for fully automatic fire.

Collins had been free on bond from an arrest for a 2021 carjacking in Athens. Officers went to Parkview Homes with a bench warrant to arrest him for failing to appear in court in the carjacking case.

Another firearm that was seized along with the arrest was a stolen Smith & Wesson M&P 15 assault-type rifle with a 40-round ammo magazine.

In addition to being served with the bench warrant, Collins was charged with theft by receiving stolen property and obstruction of law enforcement.

Marcus Jamar Dowdy, 22, who was with Collins at Parkview Homes was charged with possession of a machine gun, tampering with evidence, and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Demetrius JA’ Qain Collins

Marcus Jamar Dowdy