Oct. 30, 2025:
A New Effington woman was sentenced to 15 years in the South Dakota Women’s Prison after shooting and injuring her supervisor at the Avantara Care Center in Milbank in January 2025.
Judge Dawn Elshere suspended two years of Carrie Anne Collins’ sentence and gave her credit for the 267 days she’s spent in confinement. In September, Collins plead guilty but mentally ill to a charge of aggravated assault causing bodily injury with a dangerous weapon.
Court information says after receiving negative feedback during an employment training session at Avantara on Jan. 15, Collins left the building, went to her vehicle and retrieved her 9mm pistol. She then re-entered the nursing facility and upon seeing the trainer that offered the feedback, pulled out her firearm and fired one round from the handgun. The bullet struck the trainer in the face, passing through the bridge of her nose and damaging her cheek. Collins then exited Avantara but was stopped by law enforcement minutes later, not far from the facility.
According to Grant County State’s Attorney Jackson Schwandt, Collins initially pled not guilty to the charge of Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault. In June, Collins was found mentally incompetent to stand trial. After an evaluation at the Human Services Center in Yankton, it was determined that Collins has schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, among other mental disorders.
Schwandt said Collins received treatment at the Human Services Center and was found competent to stand trial while on medication. In September, she agreed to change her plea to guilty but mentally ill on the aggravated assault charge. In return, the attempted first degree murder charge was dropped.
Besides her prison sentence, Collins was ordered to pay court costs and reimburse the county for her court-appointed attorney fees. Collins is also to have no contact with the victim of the crime or with any Avantara residents or staff.
Story courtesy of news partner KXLG.
June 18, 2025:
A woman charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault for a shooting at a Milbank nursing home during an employee dispute has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Carrie Ann Collins of New Effington is alleged to have shot a co-worker in the face with a pistol on January 15th at the Avantara Nursing Home in Milbank. After she was charged, a judge set her bond at $250,000 cash, and her attorney’s were granted approval for a mental competency evaluation of Collins.
Grant County State’s Attorney Jackson Schwandt writes, “Ms. Collins was determined not competent to stand trial. She is currently at the Human Services Center in Yankton undergoing restoration therapy to see if she can become competent to stand trial.”
The victim in the shooting sustained minor injuries.
Story courtesy of news partner KWAT/Watertown Radio.
January 23, 2025:
MILBANK, S.D.–A judge has approved a mental competency evaluation for the woman charged in a shooting at a Milbank nursing home this month.
Forty year-old Carrie Collins of New Effington, MN, was an employee in training at Avantara Milbank when she became disgruntled with her supervisor, and shot her in the face with a pistol on January 15, 2025.
Collins is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault.
The victim sustained minor injuries.
Grant County State’s Attorney Jackson Schwandt says the motion for a mental competency evaluation was approved during a court appearance Tuesday (Jan. 21, 2025).
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 4.
Story courtesy of news partner KWAT/Watertown Radio.
January 16, 2025:
MILBANK, S.D.–Charges have now been filed against a woman in a shooting at a Milbank nursing home on Wednesday (Jan. 15, 2025).
A supervisor was shot by an employee at the Avantara Nursing Home, leaving the victim with what were described as minor injuries.
Grant County State’s Attorney Jackson Schwandt says the suspect, Carrie Ann Collins, is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault.
Judge Dawn Elshere set Collins’ bond at $250,000 cash only, with the added conditions that if she posts bond, she’s to have no contact with the victim or the nursing home.
Collins is alleged to have shot the female victim once following an employee dispute. She was arrested as she was attempting to leave the nursing home.
Story courtesy of news partner KWAT/Watertown Radio.
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