Federal investigators say the arrest came before a search on the victim’s route in DeKalb County.
DECATUR, GA — Federal investigators said a person of interest in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in suburban Atlanta was taken into custody in the city on an outstanding Atlanta murder warrant, as agents searched a home near where the carrier was killed last week.
The arrest and search marked the first major public step in the investigation into the death of Dequavious Graves, 31, who was shot while delivering mail on Feb. 12. Officials have not released a motive, have not said how many suspects they are investigating, and have not identified the person being held. The case has drawn attention across metro Atlanta because Graves was killed in uniform on his route and because authorities say the man in custody was already wanted in a separate homicide case.
Graves was delivering mail on Oxford Drive in DeKalb County when he was shot shortly before 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, authorities said. Investigators have described the shooting as intentional and have said the scene was near the postal vehicle on the street. In the days after the killing, federal officials announced a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction, calling the death a rare but devastating loss for the Postal Service. “We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners,” U.S. Postal Inspector Breslin Steverson said in an earlier statement as the reward was announced.
On Tuesday, investigators said the person of interest was arrested in Atlanta during a joint operation involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, Atlanta police and the Georgia State Patrol. After the arrest, agents executed a search warrant in the 2800 block of Oxford Drive, a short distance from where Graves was killed. Officials said no additional arrests were made during the search. News footage from the scene showed a heavy law enforcement presence in the neighborhood, including federal agents around a residence. Authorities declined to describe what they were looking for or what they seized, saying details were being held back to protect the integrity of the investigation.
At a briefing near the search site, officials said the person of interest was taken into custody on a warrant filed by Atlanta police in a separate murder case. Inspector Taylor White of the Postal Inspection Service said tips and investigative work both contributed to the quick break in the case. “Fortunately this was a very rare occurrence,” White said, adding that investigators were focused on bringing justice to Graves’ loved ones. Police have not said whether Graves was targeted, whether anything was taken from him, or whether the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery or another confrontation. Investigators also have not released a description of the firearm used or any surveillance images tied to the shooting.
Atlanta police, in a separate announcement about an older homicide, said a man named Nahjel Williams was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the 2024 shooting death of a 24-year-old man. Police said officers responded on Aug. 1, 2024, to the 800 block of West Marietta Street, where they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Federal authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the person of interest in Graves’ death is the same man Atlanta police identified in that case, and they have not released booking details or court filings tied to the postal investigation.
Records from earlier cases show why investigators emphasized the outstanding warrant when discussing the arrest. Court documents and prior reports describe Williams as having been arrested in 2020 in Cobb County on an aggravated battery allegation involving a bite that removed part of a person’s face during a fight in a parking lot. Those earlier allegations are separate from the postal worker case and do not establish guilt in any current investigation, but they underscored the warnings officials issued during the initial manhunt that the suspect or suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.
Family members said Graves’ death has left them stunned and searching for answers. His mother, Shannon Graves, told local reporters she rushed to the hospital after receiving a call the night he was shot, thinking her son had been in an accident, and then learned he had died. “Just the thought of him not coming home that day,” she said, describing the last hours before she knew what had happened. Relatives said Graves had worked for the Postal Service for about three years and also spent time making music, calling him creative and driven outside of his day job. His cousin, Nosakhere Andrews, said the loss felt unreal and immediate.
Officials said investigators are continuing to collect evidence and review leads, including information that may come from residents along the route and from digital records. They have not said whether the person in custody has been questioned about Graves’ death, whether prosecutors are preparing charges tied to the shooting, or when a first court appearance might occur if charges are filed. The Postal Inspection Service has kept the reward in place and has said the case remains active while investigators sort through tips, witness statements and results from the search.
As of Wednesday, authorities had not released the name of the person being held in connection with Graves’ killing, had not described a motive, and had not said whether more arrests are expected. Investigators said the next milestone will be additional updates once evidence is processed and any charging decisions are made.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.