On a quiet morning at Texas A&M University, what began as an ordinary day turned into a nightmare no family should ever endure.
At approximately 10:17 a.m., campus police received a call from a student reporting a bullet hole in their dorm room wall.
The terrified student explained, “There is a hole through my wall and there on the other side is a nick in my calendar. It looks like someone shot through the wall and through the calendar.”
When officers arrived, they discovered a horrifying scene: two women, sisters Abbaney and Deja Matts, had been shot and were deceased inside the dorm room.
Abbaney’s two-year-old son was present during the attack and suffered a graze from a bullet.
He was immediately treated and later released into the care of family members, but the trauma of witnessing such violence would be impossible to erase.
Deja, the younger sister, was pursuing her nursing degree at college and had dreams of helping others in the healthcare field.
Abbaney, a dedicated dental assistant, had brought Deja back to campus after a family gathering, unaware that their lives were about to be shattered.
Investigators, working quickly through tips and surveillance footage, identified Jacques Smith, Abbaney’s ex-boyfriend, as the primary suspect.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Jacques was taken into custody the following day, charged with two counts of capital murder.
Details about how he gained access to the dorm room remain unclear, adding to the chilling nature of the crime.
Evidence recovered from Jacques’ home also linked him to the robbery and murder of Steven Daniels in December 2019, a case in which two other men were named as accomplices.
The sisters’ deaths, however, were not the first violent episode in Jacques’ life.
On January 27, just weeks before the dorm attack, Abbaney had attempted to end her relationship with him.
According to reports, Jacques responded violently, striking her with a lamp and a frying pan, pulling out a knife, and threatening to kill her.
Though Abbaney was not hospitalized, the attack left visible injuries and lasting fear, highlighting a dangerous pattern of abuse.
At the time, Jacques was already on probation for prior crimes related to robbery and theft, yet he was able to post bond after the attack, raising questions about systemic failures in the legal system.
Authorities have stated that delays in filing charges allowed him to remain free, ultimately putting the sisters at risk.
The day of the fatal shooting, Jacques entered the dorm room and unleashed a violence that would devastate an entire family.
The bullets that ended Abbaney and Deja’s lives also left a mark on the Texas A&M community, shattering the sense of safety students often take for granted.
Investigators meticulously collected evidence, and surveillance footage captured key moments leading up to the attack.
Jacques later pled guilty to the murders of the sisters, and a court sentenced him to life in prison plus 35 years, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Information regarding his involvement in the Steven Daniels case remains unclear, and it is not known whether that matter has proceeded to trial.
Friends and loved ones remember Abbaney and Deja for their vibrant spirits, kindness, and the love they carried for family and friends.
Deja’s passion for nursing and Abbaney’s dedication to her career and her child serve as a reminder of lives cut tragically short.
The surviving family continues to mourn the devastating loss, while grappling with anger, grief, and the unthinkable circumstances surrounding the sisters’ deaths.
Authorities, meanwhile, have emphasized the importance of vigilance, community support, and awareness in preventing similar acts of violence.
The sisters’ story is a tragic reflection of the dangers posed by domestic abuse and the failures that can allow a dangerous individual to remain free.
The community has rallied around the family, offering prayers, support, and condolences in a desperate attempt to provide comfort amid heartbreak.
Abbaney and Deja’s lives, though brief, leave a lasting impact on those who knew them and on the broader conversation about safety, domestic violence, and the responsibility of authorities to protect vulnerable individuals.
The case also highlights the ripple effects of violent crimes, from the trauma suffered by witnesses, including young children, to the deep sorrow that reverberates across friends, family, and the wider community.
Though Jacques Smith now faces a life behind bars, the pain and loss endured by Abbaney and Deja’s family will never fully fade.
Their memory stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of life, the importance of justice, and the need for vigilance in protecting those at risk.
May Abbaney, Deja, and the unborn potential of their futures rest in peace, and may their family find solace and strength in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy.
Their story is a testament to courage, love, and the enduring bonds of family, even in the face of unimaginable loss.