Vigil held for man beaten, stabbed to death inside apartment
DECATUR, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Dozens turned out Friday night at a prayer vigil for a legally blind man found brutally murdered inside his Decatur apartment.
Hours before the vigil for Keonte Metts, Decatur Police announced the arrest of 20-year-old Devon Jamal Jackson for the Wednesday murder.
Decatur Police told FOX 5 News Jackson has confessed to beating and stabbing Metts to death.
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A large crowd of family, friends, and neighbors turned out at the prayer vigil outside Keonte’s apartment at the Trinity Walk Apartment complex.
His cousin, Annisia Lucas, who would talk to him every day, said she got management to do a welfare check when Keonte didn’t answer his phone.
“We didn’t go in, we just discovered the blood everywhere and I knew something was wrong,” said Lucas.
Decatur Police told FOX 5 News Jackson has confessed to beating and stabbing Metts to death.
Investigators said Jackson was an acquaintance visiting the night of the murder.
Mett’s aunt, Antoinette Duncan, told Fox 5 News she and other family members intend to follow and appear at the court proceedings of Jackson.
“We just want to know that justice is going to be done for Keonte and that’s what we want we want justice for Keonte,” said Duncan.
Duncan said her nephew was born premature, legally blind and hard of hearing, the single survivor of a set of twins.
Several people spoke of Mett’s giving spirit at the vigil, including his aunt Adriane Metts.
“Even with his disability he still made room for people in his heart,” said Metts.
Many said Keonte Metts overcame hardships and obstacles in life and was as light and easy going as balloons released in his honor in death.
Keonte they said overcame challenges by helping others, including they believe the man accused of taking his life.
“This is the person he opened up to, yeah,” said Duncan.
Decatur Police said Metts appeared to have died from some type of blunt force trauma but it’ll take an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Investigators also said the motive for the murder is unclear.
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