Deja Matts, a 19-year-old African American female, was tragically killed on February 3, 2020, in Commerce, Texas. Deja was a student at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she was pursuing a degree in public health with aspirations of becoming a nurse. On the day of her death, Deja and her 20-year-old sister, Abbaney Matts, were found dead inside Deja's dorm room at the Pride Rock Residence Hall on the university campus.
Abbaney's 2-year-old son, Allen, was also present and sustained a gunshot wound to his leg but survived.
The investigation revealed that the sisters were shot by Jacques Dshawn Smith, a 21-year-old African American male, who was Abbaney's ex-boyfriend. Smith was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of Deja and Abbaney Matts. The motive behind the shooting was linked to a history of domestic violence between Smith and Abbaney. Just a week before the murders, Smith had been arrested for assaulting Abbaney with a frying pan, a lamp, and threatening her with a knife. He was released on bail shortly before the fatal incident.
The tragic event prompted a lockdown on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus and led to an outpouring of grief and support from the community. The Matts family remembered Deja and Abbaney as bright, athletic, and ambitious young women who shared a close bond. Deja's dream of becoming a nurse and Abbaney's aspirations to work in the medical field were inspired by their mother, who works in dentistry.
The case against Jacques Dshawn Smith progressed with the capital murder charges, and the investigation continued to uncover more details about the circumstances leading up to the tragic deaths of Deja and Abbaney Matts. The community rallied around the family, offering support and assistance during this difficult time.
