In the early evening of March 29, 2023, a violent altercation in Macon, Georgia, claimed the life of 37-year-old Christopher Matthew Rachalla. This Hispanic male became an unintended victim when he stepped in to de-escalate a domestic dispute. The incident unfolded at the Brookhaven Townhouses on Brookhaven Road, where deputies were initially dispatched for a domestic call just after 6:30 p.m. While on their way, the call was tragically upgraded to a person shot.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Rachalla unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators determined that Rachalla, a resident of the apartment complex, had attempted to intervene in a heated argument between 32-year-old Keywan Gerold Capers and his girlfriend. After Rachalla successfully broke up the fight, allowing the woman to find safety in a nearby apartment, Capers allegedly shot him. According to an incident report, Capers shot Rachalla multiple times, then took Rachalla's own gun from its holster before fleeing the scene.
Following the shooting, Capers left the area in his girlfriend's vehicle. Law enforcement quickly issued a lookout for the vehicle. With the assistance of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Bibb County deputies were able to stop the vehicle shortly after and take Capers into custody. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Keywan Gerold Capers was charged with aggravated assault and murder in connection with the death of Christopher Rachalla. He is being held without bond. The community remembered Rachalla, a former police captain with the Reynolds Police Department and a father of four, as a hero who died trying to protect someone in need. During his five years of service, he had been named Officer of the Year four times.
