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Father of sisters who were killed in Texas A&M University-Commerce dorm room says they were best friends

Jacques Dshawn Smith, 21, faces a capital murder charge in the deaths of sisters, Deja Matts and Abbaney Matts, Texas A&M University-Commerce confirms.

DALLAS — Updated at 8:52 a.m. Wednesday with a mugshot of Jacques Dshawn Smith.

Deja Matts, 19, wanted to be a nurse. That's why she was in college.

Her sister, 20-year-old Abbaney Matts, was her best friend.

The two died together in Deja's door room Monday afternoon at Texas A&M University-Commerce. 

Abbaney's 2-year-old son Allen was shot in the leg. He survived.

RELATED: 2 women killed, toddler injured in shooting at Texas A&M University-Commerce residence hall

The family wanted WFAA to show the video of baby Allen so people could see how cruel the person who did this really is.

“I think it was a coward move. I mean that someone would do something like that. My daughters were fun, uplifting, they had plenty of friends. Nice folks. Know what I'm saying. They took both my daughters,” said Timonthy Matts.

Abbaney did not attend the college. 

She drove her sister back to school after a big family get together over the weekend. 

She and baby Allen were only going to spend one night there.

"They were just up here. My son had a birthday party and they were all up here and went back and all this happened,” said Matts.

Police did release a 911 call that was made by a student at the college saying there was a bullet hole in her dorm room.

"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."

Police have arrested Abbaney's ex-boyfriend 21-year-old Jacques Dshawn Smith. He faces a charge of capital murder. 

Credit: Hunt County Jail
Jacques Dshawn Smith

The girls’ family says there had been relationship issues but for now, they want the focus to remain on the two sisters who were full of life and love.

Smith was arrested by Garland police on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge on Jan. 27. The victim in that incident was Abbaney Matts, who police say was hit with a frying pan and a lamp and threatened with a knife by Smith. She suffered injuries to head, eyes, abrasions, red marks and other minor injuries.

Smith posted a $15,000 bail on Jan. 29 and a judge issued an emergency protective order for Matts.

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