A suspect was arrested Saturday in the case of a Fayetteville drag performer murdered last month.
Zachary Lee Oaks, 22, of the 900 block of Anarine Drive, has been charged with first degree murder. He is accused of killing 34-year-old Jimmy Ali McCollough. Known as his drag persona Image Devera, McCollough worked at Club Emages.
McCollough was found dead on April 14 on the side of Joseph St., just one street away from the club. Police have released little details on the case.
In Q-Notes‘ May 2 print issue, McCollough’s sister, Kathy McCollough, alleged that the police department had done very little to investigate her brother’s death. As the print issue rolled onto news stands, police released a flier asking for community assistance and offering a $1,000 reward. It isn’t yet clear whether the flier led to Oaks’ arrest.
Oaks was also charged with assault with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury in a separate case, according to The Fayetteville Observer. He’s accused of assaulting a woman with a knife on May 8. His bail was set at $50,000 in that case.
Spokespeople for the Fayetteville Police Department were not immediately available for comment.
Stay tuned to Q-Notes for more on this breaking story.
JUSTICE HAS PREVAILED!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to say that justice has preveil i’m glad that they caught and hope he burn in hell for what he did.In today place of the world you have to be acount for the crime you do.
I hope they have the right guy and don’t screw it up.
I feel sorry for both families the victim and the accused. Two families are hurting right now.
I personally know Zachary and it is a shock that he would do something like this. i’m sorry for the loss that both families have incurred but we as people need to just accept others for who they are. Hopefully there is peace for the mccullough family!! and i will be praying for mr. oaks!!
i am the sister of jimmy and our family wont have peace until mr oaks is dead too! i support the death penalty all the way for guilty people! anybody want to know the court date for zachary let me know.
When is his hearing. They may seek the death penalty
May 28th is the courtdate at 9 am at the cumberland county courthouse room 2b.
If he’s guilty, I want to see justice served. Is he pleading guilty or not guilty ?
I personally know Zach, in fact i know him very
well and I have all my life. It was a big shock
to me and the rest of my family and friends who
knew him very well. I didnt know Jimmy, but I
have family who went to school with him and
graduated with him and knew him very well.
Im praying for the the Oaks family and the
McCollough family because I
I know that everyone is hurting right now including myself
and only God himself can heal the hurt, and I think
if everyone put the situation in God’s hands
it will work out for the best for everyone. And
when you say you won’t have peace until Zachary
is dead too? That’s not going to change the
fact that Jimmy is gone and he isn’t coming back
and most likely Zach will be spending quite a
while if not the rest of his life in prison.
I know it may not come now or anytime soon but
there has to be a point where forgiveness steps
in because with unforgiveness in our hearts we
will not make it into the Kingdom of God and
that should be our main goal in this life.
i also know zachary oaks! I call him brother and friend. I am sorry for Jimmy’s Family, I am sorry for the Oaks family. I am in shock and disbelief! I pray that God will strengthen both familes and help them to deal with their pain and suffering. God won’t put more on you than you can bear. The oaks family is strong, they can bear this.
Well i know Zachary Oaks very well i grew up with him also and i too called him brother and friend. We share a lot in common over the years. I too was surprised and hurt when i heard about this. But all we can do is pray but the bottom line is nobody knows if he really did it no one was there so lets just pray that whomever did or didn’t do it god just touches and renews there mind and gives them a second chance. If the story was flipped and we were in this situation would we really wanna wish death on anyone? But i am praying for both families i understand i have been there.
i dont care that it wont change the fact that jimmy aint coming back. his ass need to die like he killed my brother. and if yall cant deal with the way i feel that too bad cuz its my personal opinion. i have peace and closure within myself but hey this how i feel and If im wrong, let the Lord himself deal with me and judge me!!!!!
I know Zackary as well. He had you guys fooled. He’s one of the stupidest people I’ve ever met. I don’t feel sorry for him, but I do feel sorry for his family.
Freedom of expression is an incredible thing. I have read everyone’s comments about this very heart wrenching loss and learned a bit as well with the little mentioned here. Pain, loss and death cut and wound very deep. Ms. McCollough is hurting because of her loss and has a right to express that pain however it comes out. It’s a natural thing. If you haven’t been there, just live it will come to your house. Perhaps, not violently as she has had to deal with it, but death is inevitable for all of us and is never easy when you love someone regardless of their choice in this life. However, once the healing process comes there is the responsibility to think clearly and make right choices and that is to choose to forgive-not for the offender but for the individual who has been wounded so they can continue to be free within their heart.
In our court of law the words innocent until proven guilty comes to mind. Many lives have been, are and will continue to be effected by the death of mr. mccullough in this case.
How about we pray and wait for the facts to unfold before we judge anyone’s feelings about mr. oaks or ms. mccullough’s feelings about her loss and who has been charged with the death of her loved one.
It is one thing to be on the outside looking in, its a totally different thing to be walking in someones shoes. Both individuals appeared to be living double lives; the deceased and the accused. ALL truth comes to light and when it does can you be mature enough to call it for what it is even in pain. Let truth prevail because God will see that justice will prevail how he chooses. We never know what we will do when placed in certain situations, so let’s just keep all involved lifted in prayer and know this too will pass!
AFTER HAVING TIME TO THINK I WANTED TO COME BACK AND APOLOGIZE I HURT ANYONE BY MY COMMENTS. I AM NOT EXUCSING WHAT I SAID JUST HOW I SAID IT. MY HEART IS SO HEAVY AND BLEEDING. EVERYDAY I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY BROTHERS DEATH ALONE AND IT HURTS SO BAD I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO……….
I have read the postings on here numerous times and have been fighting on whether or not I would post anything.I have been on both sides of the fence. I know the pain that Ms. McCullough is feeling even though death is inevitable to lose someone at the hands of someone else is a totally different feeling. I know Zach personally and the guy that I know him to be is a pretty decent person so I can understand how it feels to be part of the family and loved ones of the accused you dont want to believe that someone you are so close with is capable of something like this you want to support your loved one and at the same time have sympathy for the family that lost someone. Ms. McCullough I ont know you and I hope I am not crossing the line, but I lost an Uncle to murder at the age of 9 he was like a dad to me and for 9 years until the age of 18 I held on to that hurt and pain and hatred towards the person who took him from me. Once I turned 18 I had a nervous breakdown and tried to take my own life and I am here to tell you I had a serious come to Jesus meeting during that time and the only way I ws going to be able to move on with my life and honor my Uncle the right way was to give it to GOD and I am a living testimony that he will make things right. You are never going to stop missing your brother it has been close to 20 years and I still miss my Uncle dearly. No one knows what really happened and we are all praying that the truth comes out so that everyone can get some type of understanding. My advice to is when your heart starts to get extra heavy pray Ms. McCullough I know that may not be what you want to hear and it is the hardest thing to do when you are in pain but please give it to Jesus I promise he will comfort you and do know that you are not praying by yourself there are a group of people that you dont even know praying for you as well……KEEP GOD FIRST
I HAVN’T READ ALL OF THE COMMENTS BUT THE ONES I HAVE READ ARE HORRIBLE… ZACHARY IS MY COUSIN… FIRST COUSIN AND WE ARE VERY CLOSE… AND I KNOW MS.McCollough THAT YOUR HURTING, BUT FOR YOU AND ANYONE ELSE TO SAY THE HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT MY COUSIN BASED ON AN ARREST….IS HORRIBLE… YOU OR NO ONE ELSE POSTING ON HERE KNOWS IF HE DID IT OR DIDN’T AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT IS WRONG… YOU WASN’T THERE DURING THE TIME OF DEATH…SO HOW CAN ANYONE BE SO SURE… I AM SO SO SO VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOST… I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LOOSE SOMEONE VERY CLOSE… JUST TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT… BUT KNOW MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, IT WILL NOT BRING YOUR BROTHER BACK, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, TRY TO CALM DOWN AND LET THE POLICE DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, TO GET THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE… HOW WOULD YOU FEEL THAT WHEN HIS TRIAL DATE COMES UP AND HES FOUND NOT GUILTY, AND THEN THEY ARREST SOMEONE WHO IS GUILTY… YOU WILL FEEL BAD THAT YOU WISHED DEATH UPON AN INNOCENT PERSON… SO IM ASKING WOMEN TO WOMEN, PLEASE DO NOT JUMP THE GUN AND SAY EVIL HURTFUL THINGS ABOUT SOMEONE BASED ON AN “IF”…
S. Leach
PS… “EVERYDAY I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY BROTHERS DEATH ALONE ”
NEVER EVER EVER FEEL YOUR ALONE… IF NO ONE ELSE IS THERE… GOD IS ALWAYS THERE…. I WISH YOU THE BEST….
This is wild man in high school he was like a jock an to here this that he killed someone is CRAZY hold ya head playa an let god deal wit it
I AINT ABOUT TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT NOTHING!!!!! IF HE GUILTY THEN LET HIM DIE!!!! IF HE AINT, THEN THEY CAN LOOSE HIM AND SET HIM FREE!!!J SO BEFORE YOU TAKE WHAT I SAID OUT OF CONTEXT YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND READ ALLLLLLLLLLLL THE POSTINGS. AND I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST AS WELL!!!
AND AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, I JIMMY THE LUCKY ONE ANYWAY. HE AINT GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS OLD WORLD NO MORE. DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FOLKS TALKING ABOUT HIM, NO MORE BILLS ALL HE DOING IS RESTING IN THE ARMS OF HIS LORD AND SAVIOR NOW I CAN BELIEVE THAT!!!
I want to encourage you Ms. McCollough to continue to pray. It’s expected for you to be angry and upset. It will take time for you to be able to completely put this in the hands of the Lord and be able to feel anything close to forgiveness for whoever committed this horrible crime. I think that anyone of us that have experienced a sudden loss of a close family member will share the same experience.
However, if you are sincere and persistent in praying for justice to be served and for your heart to be mended; it will happen. God is able to take any kind of hurt and pain and restore it with His love. He will take the worst kind of anger and vengeance and turn it into passion and praise for His namesake.
I am a friend of the Oaks family and I was deeply hurt and overwhelmed when I heard this news.
To all the members of the Oaks family: If Zach is guilty of this crime, it doesn’t change the experience you’ve had with him, the good times, the laugh, the smiles. He obviously had some struggles we didn’t know about that pushed him to this— if he in fact did this. If he is guilty and is sentenced to life or the death penalty, he will face a hard, long prison experience. It will be the toughest time of his life. He comes from a home that taught right from wrong. He knows what he has gotten himself into. My prayer is that he comes to repentance, gets his sins under the blood of Jesus and lives the rest of his life serving God.
If someone who has been raised with such God-fearing, God-loving, Good-natured, Law-abiding parents could do something like this. It goes to show that the Devil is busy. It’s not time to judge anyone because but by the grace of God there go you or I.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
God Bless You All and Let’s Continue to Pray!!!
I personally know Zach as well, I’ve known him my whole life. Its hard to imagine him ever doing something remotely close to this. Naturally when someone is so dear to you its hard, and you always want PROOF that they are in fact guilty. I hope & pray that this is the case and if so that its cleared up before its too late…I’ve seen too many INNOCENT people in my lifetime being punished for a crime they didnt commit and its just not right, we shouldnt pass judgment until we are SURE, and even then its not OUR place to judge….Its GODS!!! I pray that God gives both families the strength to get through this tough situation. For the McCollough family, I know you are hurting and I know you wish to seek justice for your family but wishing death is just not the way. I fully agree that you should pay for your crimes but I do not agree with the death penalty.Allow God to guide you…He’ll make a way. It may seem like you’ll grieve forever or that this hurt will never go away…..But I beg you to TRUST!! I can assure you that in time your hearts will heal but you have to trust God to pull you through. BOTH familes will remain in my thoughts and prayers!!
I hear they have got enough evidence to covict Zackary with no problem. Why does everyone think Zackary is such a good person? I think he’s a real jerk.
@ Brewster FIRST OFF I CAN CARE LESS BOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM, I DON’T GIVE 3 DAMNS WHAT EVIDENCE YOU THINK HE HAD… AND IF YOU KNOW THAT MUCH SHIT LET ME KNOW CUZ IM FAMILY AND THEY AREN’T EVEN TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CLAIM YOU KNOW… SO HELL FILL ME IN… CUZ WHAT I HEARD WAS HE WASN’T EVEN ARRESTED FOR THAT MURDER… AND I ALSO HEARD THEY WASN’T EVEN REALLY INVESTIGATING IT EITHER… NOW ONCE AGAIN I CAN BE WRONG… I DON’T KNOW WTF HAPPENED AND GUESS WHAT I CAN BET THAT EVER LAST MUTHA F. COMMENTING ON THIS B**** DON’T KNOW EITHER… NOW LIKE I SAID SOME FUNNY SHIT IS GOING ON BELIEVE WHAT CHU WANT… AND Ms. McCollough I AIN’T TRYNA COME OFF RUDE OR NOTHING SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THE SAME RESPECT… I WAS JUST TRYNA HELP YOU OUT… CUZ FACT IS WHO YOU GONNA BLAME IF HES FOUND NOT GUILTY… THEN WHAT…? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? DEAL WITH LIFE CORRECT? SO WHY NOT DO THAT NOW… AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GONNA READ THIS AND B LIKE DIS B**** BUT THATS MEAN IM STRAPPED IN REALITY PERIOD I KNOW THINGS CAN ONE DAY GO MY WAY AND THEN TURN AGAIN… SO AM I GONNA WISH WRONG ON SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THAT PERSON COULD POSSIBLY BE GUILTY HELL NO…. FOR WHAT? THERES NO REASON FOR IT… BUT LIKE I SAID… THERE IS DEFF. SOME ISH GOING ON… BELIEVE IT OR NOT… AND IF YA’LL REALLY KNEW EVERYTHING… THEN YOU WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY… POINT BLANK PERIOD….
AND ITS KINDA FUNNY HOW…. THEY WAS NEVER LOOKING FOR ANYONE THEN MY COUSIN WAS ARRESTED FOR ANOTHER SITUATION NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HES A SUSPECT IN A CRIME HE WS NEVER EVEN QUESTIONED FOR….. SOUNDS LIKE SOME POLICE WAS PISSED AT SOMEONE COMPLAIN ABOUT THEN NOT LOOKING FOR SOMEONE… THAT THEY TRIED AND PIN THAT SHIT ON SOMEONE… LIKE I SAID SOME FUNNY SHIT GOING ON DOWN THERE IN NORTH CAROLINA…
I completely agree with Shannon….. sorry but in life we have to face reality and facts. No disrespesct by anymeans…….. but brewster I feel like ur going off of he say she say. Unless u work for the fayetteville police then ur out of the loop just as everyone else. This could be a case of point the finger…keep it simple and move on simply because they needed answers they couldn’t find. It happens all the time. Sorry but its true. Innocent until PROVEN guilty…. by a court of law…. not people on a blog!!!!!!
@ Brewster, You ask y do people seem to think Zachary is such a good person? We speak so highly of him because he is a good person. If you knew Zach then u would know it also. he is the kind of guy that would help a stranger in the pouring rain change a tire bc that is the kind of father he has. He was raised in a good home with manners and respect, this is not the zach u see in the mug shot. Try to have an open mind and just for a moment ask yourself how could a guy with a clean record like zach all of a sudden be a murderer? it might be mistaken identity. Lets not jump to conclusion or race to insult one another. Time will tell. but until then, lets try to believe the good in a person, until its proven otherwise.
what are the results of his court case today?
Zachary got a continuance. I will post the new court date sometime next week.
continuance???? HMMM I WONDER WHY
I KNOW RIGHT. TO ME PEOPLE ONLY ASK FOR CONTINUANCES UNLESS THEY KNOW THEY GUILTY. BUT WE WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH WHEN HE GOES BACK TO COURT.
The new court date is in July. I’ll let Ms. McCollough do the honors of telling you the exact date….continuances are not always based on guilt but for the accused to obtain legal representation and/or to have time to present their case properly to include evidence of innocence or if guilty to speak with district attorney for a plea bargain. Strickly FYI – God bless!
OKAY IT IS NOT THAT SERIOUS IM JUST SAYING HOW I FEEL. I DONT KNOW WHY PEOPLE GET ALL DEFENSIVE WHEN PEOPLE GIVE THEIR OPINION ON THINGS. I MEAN REALLY!! IF YOU GOT THE NEW COURT DATE FEEL FREE TO SHARE CUZ ITS NOT THAT SERIOUS. PEOPLE ALWAYS GETTIN EMOTIONAL ON THE DAMN INTERNET… AND I KNOW ABOUT CONTINUANCES YOU NOT TALKIN TO A 3 YEAR OLD WHO DONT KNOW BETTER EITHER…FYI!!!
for someone who is telling everyone else not to get DEFENSIVE , you sure are acting DEFENSIVE, lashing out at peeps like someone said ur acting like a 3 yr old. With that said, everyone needs to calm down, The TRUTH will come out one day, one day there won’t be anymore continuances, and all will be known.until then PLESE lets try to be patient.
“IT IS NOT THAT SERIOUS ” WHAT A QUOTE…. LIVES ARE CHANGING TO EVEYONE WHO HAD AN EMOTIONAL TIE TO THIS CASE, AND “IT IS NOT THAT SERIOUS”… I THINK IT IS VERY SERIOUS… U SAYING HOW YOU FEEL, VERY BLUNTLY I MIGHT ADD, BUT WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING BACK, YOU GET “DEFENSIVE”… THIS IS A HIGHLY STRESS/EMOTIONAL SITUATION AND IM SURE YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY, AND I RESPECT THAT, BUT JUST LIKE YOUR NOT HOLDING YOUR TONGUE, DON’T EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO EITHER…
It’s all good. I was trying to show respect since you were the one who started this blog in the first place. No harm intended. The continued court date is 7/30/09. I dont claim to have inside connections just know how to use the internet and good common sense. Court dates are public information. God bless!
i dont care if you hold your tongue or not.
This whole situation is stressful. The murder was stressful. The funeral was stressful. The hearings are especially stressful because Zachary won’t the only person involved and I hope the police know this. But either way. I know both sides are worn out over this thing. Its a hurtful situation. And I like a lot of people want it to be over.
I can understand how ms mccollough has so much anger and how the family of zach has so much anger as well. But let’s face facts: if this had been a white man who had been murdered or let this have happened on ft bragg, they would have found the person and sentenced him already!!! now what ms mccollough is saying is partially tru. yes zach needs to be punished if he did but zach aint the only one who needs to be punished. cuz the drag queen who was out there with jimmy that night had something to do with it as well and a couple of other queens were acessories too. so FPD, Step up your game and keep looking for the other people involved in this terrible crime.
John Doe sounds like you were there or knew a queen who was by your comments. Personally dont live that kinda lifestyle. Fill me in…so is that how queens do things…in groups?
uhhh no i didnt know the queen but that queen was out there with jimmy that night. but im not here to argue. rest in peace jimmy
I am shocked that zach did this but he knew what he got his self into !!! I feel sorry for both families but He is a grown man and he made this choice on his own !!!!!!!
I know zach, i know how he is and what he is about. It damn sure aint killing people thats for sure. I’ve known him from the streets of fiscal all the way up north. His parents are great people who raised a great man. I played b ball with his older brother. There is no way in hell that this bullshit is true. Like whats posted in earlier convo. police trying to pin this shit on someone who is damn well innocent. I know that from the bottom of my heart. Zach stay 2 the lord and he will guide you, and tyo the families that are caught up in this. Stay strong. Remember that, because when its all said and done thats just it, it’s done. What can you do. Nothing your feelings have nothing to do with what those 12 people decide. Guilty or not! But for all those Oaks fam out there. I love ya. I will be praying for both families. Be blessed.
“I am shocked that zach did this but he knew what he got his self into ” ARE YOU A WITNESS? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS INVESTIGATION; BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HEAR, YOU SURE DO KNOW A LOT. AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED… HMMM THIS IS THE FIRST I’M HEARING ABOUT THIS… SO LETS JUST TRY TO REPLAY THIS SITUATION…
JIMMY (R.I.P) WAS FOUND DEAD ON (APRIL 14), 2009…
A MONTH LATER (MAY 2ND) A POST WAS MADE STATING
“McCollough’s sister, Kathy McCollough, alleged that the police department had done very little to investigate her brother’s death. As the print issue rolled onto news stands, police released a flier asking for community assistance and offering a $1,000 reward”
THEN LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, (MAY 6) ZACH WAS ARRESTED FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CRIME, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE OUR SUSPECT….
Let me ask a dumb question…. if it took them less than a week from the (MAY 2) post, what were they doing between April 14 and May 2nd… and you mean to tell me out of all the people replying to this article im the ONLY ONE that sees something fishy… are you serious…. like i said i can understand, WANTING JUSTICE but you want the RIGHT person to serve….
SMH JUST THINK ABOUT IT… THEY DIDN’T HAVE 2 DO ANY HARD WORK (GOING OUT LOOKING 4 A SUSPECT) AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY GET TO KEEP THEIR LITTLE THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD, BECAUSE NO ONE TURNED ANYONE IN…
both families are hurting right now. i just hope that they do have the right person. rest in peace mr mccollough.
MAY THE RIGHT MAN BURN IN HELL FOR THIS HORRIBLE CRIME!!!!!!!!! WHETHER ZACH DID IT OR NOT, WHOEVER IS THE TRUE PERSON IS, DEATH PENALTY ALL THE WAY!!!
Wow, those are some heartless words whoknows. Be careful -we all will give an account for the words we say regardless of the situation.
SMH AT ALL THE DEVIL WORSHIPERS ON THIS PAGE… WISHING DEATH ON SOMEONE… .. WHATEVER IS ALL I CAN SAY… <<<LAST POST…
ZAC, I LOVE YOU CUZ LIKE YOU KNOW IM BY YA SIDE… 100000000000%…ALWAYS…. KEEP YA HEAD UP, KEEP GOD FIRST AND LET HIM BE YOUR GUIDE…LOVE YOU BABY BOY…..
SHANNON
All I am saying is if he did it let him burn. If he didnt, let him go. Im seeing from my side which im a friend of Jimmy’s and you are seeing from your side because you are a relative of Zach’s. Both sides of this situation are in pain and they can’t understand the other’s pain. But if you want to get technical fuck you and yo cousin!!!!
Ignorance at its finest award goes to certain people on this blog. I will say again Zach is innocent until otherwise proven. To those that are lacking intelligence….The phrase entered US law through a Supreme Court decision which reversed a lower court because the jury had not been instructed “The law presumes that persons charged with crime are INNOCENT until they are PROVEN by competent EVIDENCE to be guilty” in 1894. Anger is permissable but facts still remain and one fact we ALL clearly know is that he has not been proven to be guilty. Unless the judge does blog sentencing now as part of helping out in the recession…..In which case I’m not aware of!!!!
Smh @ ignorant ppl…not gonna even atempt to stoop as you as you, I just might hit my mouth on the ground. GOD BLESS