DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — One current and one former DeKalb County Police officer have been indicted Wednesday after a man was shot and killed in 2022, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced.
In a news conference, Boston said the case involved the death of 37-year-old Marando Salmon. A grand jury decided to indict former DKPD Officer Russell Mathis, 30, on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor reckless conduct. Current DKPD Officer Jordan Vance, 30, was also indicted on a charge of reckless conduct, Boston said.
On Thursday, both Mathis and Vance turned themselves in to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and were taken into custody. Vance was released on a $3,000 bond, and Mathis was granted an $8,000 bond but still remains in jail.
"A life has been lost, and for that, I extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. Samon's loved ones," Boston stated.
The charges stem from a Nov. 4, 2022 shooting. According to the district attorney, information from the investigation revealed that at 11 p.m. that day, Mathis and Vance received a call about a stolen car in a driveway at a home on Autumn Crest Court. Boston said that as part of the investigation, Vance knocked on the front door of the house, which she said swung open.
She said the officers then entered. As they went through the home, Mathis went to the second floor of the house and encountered Salmon sitting on his bed in the dark, she said.
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Mathis then allegedly shot and killed Salmon in a matter of seconds, Boston said. Salmon threw a cellphone at Mathis, which she said the officer believed was a knife.
At the time of the shooting, Salmon was not armed, she said. However, a holstered gun was later found in his bedroom during the investigation. Boston noted that Salmon was a lawful gun owner.
Salmon was taken to the hospital where he later died, she said.
After this, the police department called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to review the incident. In March 2023, the case was turned over to the district attorney's office.
"Officer-involved shootings are difficult and quite often involve challenging facts and circumstances," Boston said. "But since becoming district attorney, I have always made it very clear that my office will lead the charge of doing what is right even when it's difficult or uncomfortable."
Salmon's family members attended the news conference as Boston made the announcement about the charges. One of his loved ones held his photo as they sat together in the room.
Grand jury warrants were issued, and Mathis and Vance turned themselves into the DeKalb County Jail on Thursday, according to jail records.
Records show that Mathis has a total bond of $8,000 -- that's $5,000 for the involuntary manslaughter charge and $3,000 for the reckless conduct charge. In addition, Vance bonded out at $3,000 for his reckless conduct charge. Bond conditions for both show that neither can have contact with the victim's family or each other.
The DeKalb County Police Department said that the agency began the termination process for Vance on Thursday, Feb. 29. This was a day after the district attorney announced the charges against him. In addition, police said that Mathis resigned on May 22, 2023.
The case will be assigned to a judge and then set for trial at a later date.