Drug-related brawl between two Melbourne men leads to stabbing and death

A Melbourne resident who police said stabbed a homeless man during a dispute over stolen drugs last week has been arrested following the man's death over the weekend.

Joshua S. Smith, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 44-year-old John D. Collins of Melbourne, police reported.

The first incident occurred on September 11, after Melbourne police were called around 11:30 p.m. to investigate reports of a fight at a BP gas station at 201 Eau Gallie Blvd.

Officers arrived within minutes. Paramedics took Collins to Holmes Regional Medical Center for further treatment. Collins was seriously injured and died Saturday from knife wounds to his head and neck, Melbourne police reported.

Smith, who was arrested and initially charged with aggravated assault, told officers Collins confronted him about allegations that he stole drugs from Smith, reports show. The two began to physically fight with Collins threatening to kill Smith when he went to sleep and continuing to beat him. They continued to fight when a knife fell out of Collins' pocket. Smith grabbed the knife and struck and stabbed Collins with it until he noticed a deep cut on Collins' throat, police said. When Smith realized Collins had lost consciousness, he tried to resuscitate him and screamed for help, reports said.

After Collins' death, police upgraded the charge from aggravated assault to premeditated murder.

The case is the 30th reported homicide in Brevard County since January.

JD Gallop is a justice and breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Reach Gallop at 321-917-4641 or [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Dispute between Melbourne men over stolen drugs leads to stabbing and death