Apr 29, 2015 01:31 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

La'el Collins is abruptly leaving Chicago to return to Louisiana, where police want to ask him questions about the murder of his former girlfriend.

According to NFL.com, Collins planned to leave Chicago, the site of Thursday's NFL Draft, Wednesday to submit to questioning with the Baton Rouge Police. Collins is not a suspect, but could have information about the victim and her killer, who police believe she knew.

Brittany Mills, 29, was found shot to death in her apartment Friday. She was also pregnant, but doctors were able to successfully deliver the baby. There is no word yet on whether or not Collins is the child's father.

"He's not a suspect, but we are seeking to question him," Corporal Don Coppola told NFL Media's Albert Breer. "He knew the victim. We're not sure of the exact nature of the relationship. But for the investigation and through the investigation, we're exhausting all avenues to locate this young lady's killer."

Ian Rappaport previously reported for NFL.com team officials became aware of the situation regarding Collins on Tuesday. Part of Collins' trip to Louisiana could involve a paternity test.

"We took the investigation seriously," Jim Boren, Collins' attorney, told ESPN Tuesday. "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."

Collins was projected to be taken within the first round Thursday, as he was an All-SEC offensive lineman at LSU and it is not clear if his stock is being affected by the investigation. The draft class in particular is not a good one for offensive linemen, making Collins an even more attractive prospect.

Boren believes his client will never be implicated in Mills' murder, telling ESPN he hired a private investigation firm to verify his whereabouts.

"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. We believe that when [police] have verified that information, that they will rule him out as a suspect in the homicide, just as I believe he should be."

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