Man wanted for shooting death of brother and sister in DeKalb County arrested

Man wanted for deadly double shooting arrested

Two people were found shot to death Monday night at the East Perimeter Pointe Apartments in Decatur.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The man accused of killing a brother and sister at a Decatur apartment complex is now behind bars after police captured him in Henry County overnight.

What we know:

DeKalb County police said 25-year-old Steven Mathis, who was dating the female victim, was arrested and booked into the county jail early Tuesday. 

Investigators believe the deadly shooting was domestic-related, though it’s still unclear what sparked the violence.

Steven Christopher Mathis. Courtesy of DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Officers were called around 7:45 p.m. on Monday to the East Perimeter Pointe Apartments on Treecrest Parkway, where they found the bodies of Christopher Lewis and his sister, Brandi, inside one of the units. 

Both had been shot.

What they're saying:

Residents said they woke up to the shocking news.

"It was terrible," said Vernita Simpson. "I’ve been living here 11 years and have never heard anything like this in my life."

Another neighbor, Regina Miller, said she brought her daughter to the bus stop early that morning unaware of what had happened. "Not knowing what was going on, it was concerning," she said.

Many described the complex as a quiet place where violence is rare. "It’s just so crazy," said resident Sharikka Smith. "We’ve never had anything like that happen over here."

"It’s actually really sad," Smith added. "It’s sad."

Residents said they’re relieved to know an arrest has been made. "I’m glad they caught him because I wouldn’t want this to happen to nobody," Simpson said.

Dig deeper:

Detectives believe the incident was domestic-related and identified the suspect as 25-year-old Steven Christopher Mathis, born Sept. 29, 2000. Police reported that he was believed to be driving a black Jeep Renegade after the shooting.

According to jail records, Mathis was arrested and booked into the DeKalb County Jail at 2:45 a.m. According to DeKalb, he was arrested by the Henry County Police Department. 

What we don't know:

Investigators have not said what led to the deadly shooting or what may have sparked the argument inside the apartment.

Police have not confirmed how the suspect knew the victims or released details about their relationship.

It’s also unclear what charges Mathis will face or when he is expected to make his first court appearance.

Detectives have not shared whether any weapon was recovered as the investigation continues.

What you can do:

Police are urging anyone who knows anything about the crime to get in touch with them. 

What's next:

The investigation remains active and ongoing.