Homeless Camp Death Confirmed As A Shooting; Concord Police Investigation Enters 3rd Day: Follow-Up

CONCORD, NH ? For three days, Concord police continued searching for evidence and clues at the Pembroke Water Works property after a woman was found dead of a gunshot wound on Thursday night.

Limited information has been released about the death of Jillian Collins, 37, due to the case being an open investigation. She was found dead outside a tent at a homeless camp off Manchester Street, not far from the Soucook River, around 9:30 p.m.

Collins? boyfriend and son found her unconscious, not breathing, and not moving, outside a tent, according to scanner chatter. The camp was about a seven-minute walk into the water works property, which is owned by the town of Pembroke but is officially in Concord.

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After the scene was secured, Concord fire and rescue teams arrived and confirmed she was dead.

Due to rainstorms, investigators requested tents and lighting to be brought to the site. Initially, it was thought she may have died due to an overdose. But later, investigators discovered Collins had been killed due to a gunshot wound and the area was sealed from the public.

It is unknown whether Collins was staying at the camp or visiting. Her official address was in Barnstead, according to court paperwork and criminal filings.

On Friday morning, more than a dozen charges connected to Collins, including robbery and drug possession cases, in Merrimack County Superior Court and Concord District Court, were nolle prossed.

Detectives were seen questioning residents of two manufactured home parks on Manchester Street, across the street from the camp on Friday. Others reported to Patch they heard noise in the area of the camps in the past, including one resident who said they heard a woman screaming there last weekend.

On Friday afternoon, the New Hampshire Attorney General?s Office issued a statement confirming a suspicious death investigation was underway at the site.

Investigators and detectives have been at the scene for nearly three days searching the property. More information about the case is expected this week.

Recent Shootings And Other Violence At Concord Homeless Camps

• Shooting Reported At Homeless Camp Under Water Street Bridge; 1 Detained, 2 At-Large
• Concord Cops Seek Tips After Shooting At Homeless Camp Under The Water Street Bridge
• Concord Homeless Camp Shooting Suspect Arrested; Has Prior Stabbing, Other Convictions
• Second Arrest Made By Concord Police In June Water Street Homeless Camp Shooting Case: Follow-Up
• Corrections Seeks Tips About Drug Trafficker Accused Of Absconding From Supervision
• 3rd Suspect In Concord Homeless Camp Shooting, ?Woman With Uzi-Style Rifle,? Indicted: Superior Court Roundup
• 3 New Hampshire Fugitives, 1 Wanted Since December 2023, Have Been Captured, DOC Says: Follow-Up
• Attempted First-Degree Murder Trial For Homeless Concord Felon Set For February 2026
• Attempted Murder, Other Charges Issued In Healy Memorial Park Homeless Camp Shooting Case
• Concord Park Homeless Camp Shooting ?Person Of Interest? Held On Preventative Detention
• Concord Cops Accuse Homeless Felon Of Gun, Drug Possession After Concord Park Shooting
• Concord Police Say Healy Park Incident Was A Shooting: Follow-Up
• Man Attacked At Homeless Camp In Concord?s Healy Memorial Park
• Concord Man, Also A Boston Fugitive, Faces Assault Charges in Massachusetts, New Hampshire
• Arrest Imminent In 2nd Homeless Camp BB Gun Shooting: Updates On Concord Criminal Cases
• Another BB Gun Shooting Reported At Concord Homeless Camp: Watch
• Woman Accused Of Shooting Man With BB Gun At Homeless Camp In Concord Park: Follow-Up
• BB Gun Shooting At Homeless Camp Sends Man To Concord Hospital: Watch
• Homeless Man At Concord Camp Accused Of Attacking Family Member With A Machete: Follow-Up
• Concord Police Investigating Machete Assault Incident At Homeless Camp

The death of Collins is just the latest shooting or major act of violence at a city homeless camp during the past two years.

A man was shot in June in the camp underneath the Water Street Bridge. Three people have been arrested and indicted on charges related to the robbery incident. An assault at Healy Memorial Park in January was later revealed to be a shooting incident. One suspect has been charged with attempted murder. Others involved BB guns and there was one machete attack in Healy Park in June 2024. There have also been dozens of fires at area camps.

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