In the early morning hours of September 12, 2020, the body of 20-year-old Shakeya Smith, a Black female, was found on a sidewalk at the entrance of the Roxwood Park subdivision in Buford, Georgia. A person driving home discovered her around 5 a.m. and alerted the authorities. Investigators at the scene noted that Smith had visible injuries and was bleeding, though the exact cause of her death was not immediately apparent. Residents in the area reported hearing at least one gunshot overnight, a detail that would later prove crucial to the investigation.
Detectives were able to secure neighborhood security camera footage that captured the fatal incident. This video evidence was instrumental in identifying a suspect, 25-year-old Moses Dyl. Authorities identified Dyl as Smith's boyfriend and believed the young woman was a victim of domestic violence. Following the shooting, Dyl fled the scene and was considered armed and dangerous. He was last seen in Lithonia sometime after the incident.
A manhunt for Moses Dyl was initiated, and warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. The search for Dyl extended beyond Georgia, and he was eventually located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was apprehended on the Boardwalk and taken into custody, where he was held in the Atlantic County Jail. The arrest brought a measure of relief to Shakeya Smith's family, who remembered her as a bright and loving individual with dreams of buying her first home and attending college.
