Deja Matts was 19 and a student at Texas A&M University–Commerce pursuing a public health degree when she was killed on February 3, 2020, in Commerce, Texas. Deja and her 20-year-old sister, Abbaney Matts, were found dead inside Deja’s dorm room at Pride Rock Residence Hall. Abbaney’s 2-year-old son Allen was also present and sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and survived.

The investigation identified 21-year-old Jacques Dshawn Smith as the shooter; he was Abbaney’s ex-boyfriend and was arrested and charged with capital murder. The motive was tied to a history of domestic violence between Smith and Abbaney. A week before the killings Smith had been arrested for assaulting Abbaney with a frying pan and a lamp and for threatening her with a knife, then released on bail shortly before February 3.

Deja and Abbaney were remembered by family as bright, athletic, and aiming for medical careers; Deja wanted to become a nurse. Is there anyone who knew the sisters or who saw activity around Pride Rock Residence Hall that day who can share information?