Investigators searched a home near where Dequavious Graves was shot on his route.
DECATUR, Ga. — Authorities said a person of interest is in custody in the killing of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier who was shot while delivering mail in a DeKalb County neighborhood, a case that drew federal investigators to a home on the same street where the worker was attacked.
The detention marks the first major break publicly announced since Dequavious Graves, 31, was gunned down on Feb. 12 as he worked his route. Postal inspectors and other agencies have treated the case as a high priority because it involved the killing of a federal employee on duty. Even with a person of interest held, officials have not identified the suspect, described a motive, or said whether charges have been filed, leaving many of the core questions still unresolved.
Graves was delivering mail in the 2700 block of Oxford Drive near Flat Shoals Road when he was shot just before 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, investigators have said. In the days that followed, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced a reward of up to $250,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. That reward was intended to push tips to investigators as they built a timeline, sought surveillance video, and tried to identify who was near the scene during the minutes leading up to the shooting.
On Tuesday, investigators said a person of interest was arrested in Atlanta during a joint effort involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, Atlanta police, and the Georgia State Patrol. Soon after, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Oxford Drive in Decatur, in the same neighborhood where Graves was killed. Authorities did not describe what was seized during the search, and they did not say whether the person in custody lives at the house that was searched or what connection, if any, the home has to the shooting.
Postal Inspector Taylor White said the person of interest was also wanted by Atlanta police in a separate murder investigation and was apprehended on an outstanding Atlanta police warrant. Officials have not said whether the two cases are related beyond the suspect’s alleged involvement, and they have not explained what led investigators to focus on that person in the postal worker’s killing. Law enforcement has also not said whether the person of interest was taken into custody before or after the Oxford Drive search began.
The investigation has unfolded across overlapping jurisdictions, with federal agencies involved because the victim was a postal employee and local police involved because the killing occurred in DeKalb County. In cases involving attacks on carriers, investigators often examine whether the incident was connected to theft, retaliation, a dispute in the neighborhood, or an unrelated act of violence. Authorities have not publicly pointed to any of those explanations in Graves’ case. They have not said whether Graves was robbed, whether mail was disturbed, or whether the shooting appeared planned.
Graves’ family members have described a deep shock that has only grown as details remain limited. His mother, Shannon Graves, said she rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital after being told her son had been brought in, believing he had been hurt in an accident. She said the news that he had been shot and did not survive left her struggling to accept what happened. “It’s just been so hard,” she said in a televised interview, describing how she keeps seeing her son in her mind but cannot reach him.
Relatives said Graves was proud of his job and known for building rapport along his route. Family members said neighbors would greet him and sometimes offer water or snacks during long days, gestures that made him feel appreciated. They also said he had a strong creative side and spent much of his free time producing music and filming projects with friends. His cousin, Nosakhere Andrews, said the loss has been disorienting, describing it as a moment that keeps replaying and makes it difficult to focus on anything else.
The Postal Service said it was providing counseling services to employees at the Wesley Chapel Post Office as the investigation continued. Co-workers and supervisors often operate like a small community, with carriers covering each other’s routes and checking in when schedules change, and an on-duty death can leave staff members processing grief while still managing daily delivery demands. Investigators have not said whether Graves had reported any concerns on his route before the shooting, and the agency has not described any immediate changes to delivery operations in the area.
Even with a person of interest in custody, authorities have emphasized that the case is still developing and that public safety concerns remain. In earlier statements about the reward, investigators warned that whoever was responsible should be considered armed and dangerous. Officials have not said whether they believe more than one person was involved, and they have not described how many shots were fired or what kind of weapon was used. They also have not said whether investigators have recovered a firearm connected to the killing.
Next steps will likely center on what evidence was collected during the Oxford Drive search, what investigators can confirm about the suspect’s movements on Feb. 12, and whether prosecutors decide to file charges in state or federal court. Officials have not announced a court date, a charging decision, or a public briefing time. Investigators said they continue to review tips and evidence connected to the shooting, and they have not said whether the reward remains active or whether it could be claimed based on the arrest.
As of Wednesday, authorities had not publicly named the person in custody or released an arrest report tied directly to Graves’ killing, and they had not described a motive. Investigators said additional information would be released as the case moves forward and as it becomes appropriate to share more details.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.