vmargineanu/iStock(COMMERCE, Texas) — Two women who died in a shooting at a Texas A&M University-Commerce dorm on Monday were sisters, authorities said.
School officials said Tuesday that the “shooting appears to be a targeted, isolated event,” though the officials did not provide many details.
The suspect, identified Tuesday night as 21-year-old Jacques Dshawn Smith, has been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting, according to university officials.
The shooting was reported at 10:17 a.m. local time at the Pride Rock residence hall, which houses freshmen, according to the school’s website.
Texas A&M University-Commerce said Smith is believed to be an ex-boyfriend of one of the victims. An arrest warrant was issued for him “through the use of surveillance and witness tips,” the university’s police department said Tuesday.
One victim, 19-year-old Deja Matts, was an A&M-Commerce freshman from Garland, Texas, and was pursuing a degree in public health, officials with the university police department said Tuesday.
The second victim was her sister, 20-year-old Abbaney Matts.
The elder Matts was not enrolled at A&M-Commerce, officials said.
Abbaney Matts’ 2-year-old son was injured in the incident, university police officials said. He has since been treated and released to the care of family members, they said.
University officials said the investigation remains active.
“Our hearts go out to everyone in the community who has been impacted by this tragedy,” Mark Rudin, president of Texas A&M University-Commerce, said Monday.
Texas A&M’s campus in Commerce, Texas, is more than 200 miles north of Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station.
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