Suspect Arrested After Cherokee Firefighter, Wife Found Dead In Acworth Home: Police

COBB COUNTY, GA — A 22-year-old man is facing murder charges in connection with the deaths of an Acworth man and his wife, who were found shot to death in their home Thursday morning.

Cobb County police have arrested Matthew Lanz, who was charged with two counts of felony murder after Cherokee County firefighter Timothy Justin Hicks, 31, and his wife Amber Hicks, also 31, were found dead in their home Thursday morning.

The couple died from gunshot wounds, police said. Their 2-year-old toddler was found in the home unharmed and is now with family members.

Lanz reportedly lived next door to the Hicks family in Acworth, according to WSB-TV. A man with the same last name and address as Lanz, 27-year-old Austin Lanz, was arrested for breaking into the same home occupied by the Hicks family in April. The home was under different ownership at the time, WSB-TV reported.

Matthew Lanz was also arrested in connection with a string of burglaries in Sandy Springs on Friday, during which he reportedly stabbed a Sandy Springs police officer before being shot by police.

In addition to murder charges, Matthew Lanz is facing two counts of aggravated assault, home invasion, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is also facing multiple charges in connection with the Sandy Springs burglaries and stabbing, including 10 counts of attempted murder on a police officer, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

He currently is being held in Fulton County Jail.

• RELATED: Stabbed Officer, Shot Burglary Suspect Taken To Hospital: Police

Hicks was with the Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services for more than six years, Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather said in a statement.

"It is a sad day for our department to officially announce the loss of our brother, Justin Hicks, who was found deceased yesterday along with his wife, Amber Hicks," Prather said. "He has always been recognized as a happy, funny, loved by many kind of guy. He was always a highly motivated, energetic individual who deeply loved his job as a firefighter and consistently worked to do better and be better every day.

"Justin has touched and impacted many lives, and he will be dearly missed. Our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of a member of our family and his lovely wife. Cherokee County Fire sends out our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Justin Hicks. We ask that everyone please respect the privacy of the Hicks family and our fire family as we mourn our loss and prepare for the coming days."

Anyone with information about the killings is asked to call 770-499-3945 or email cobbpolicecrimetips@cobbcounty.org.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Hicks' memorial expenses and to help with the costs of raising their son. To donate, visit this link.

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