La'el Collins to be questioned by police, not suspect in shooting death

Police want to question former LSU tackle and NFL prospect La'el Collins after pregnant woman's shooting death

Authorities are looking to speak to former LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins following last week’s shooting death of a pregnant woman, Baton Rouge, La., police told ESPN.com.

Baton Rouge police say that Collins is not a suspect in the death of 29-year-old Brittany Mills, who was found dead last Friday in her apartment.

Mills’ child was delivered at the hospital and is expected to survive. Mills and Collins are believed to have dated at one period, but police have yet to determine their relationship.

Jim Boren, Collins' attorney, said that he has been in contact with the authorities on the case. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Collins is returning to Louisiana from Chicago to meet with authorities in an effort to clear his name. 

The draft begins on Thurday. 

Collins is projected to be a first-round draft pick, after being a first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-America selection last season.

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"We took the investigation seriously," Boren told ESPN.com. "We've tried to rule him out as a suspect. We're going to provide that information to the police, and ultimately [Collins] will sit down and talk to them. But the timing is poor."

Boren said that a private investigative company was recently hired to determine where Collins was on the day of the shooting. Boren says he believes Collins has an alibi that will eliminate him as a possible suspect in the case.

"We have identified where La'el was the day the lady was murdered to establish he was nowhere around," Boren said. "We have offered to give names, witnesses who can vouch for his whereabouts that day until after the woman's body was discovered."

- Scooby Axson