Family members say Dequavious Graves was delivering mail when he was shot in Decatur.
DECATUR, Ga. — Federal investigators are offering a $250,000 reward for information after a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was shot and killed while delivering mail in a DeKalb County neighborhood, authorities said, as the worker’s family described a sudden loss that still feels unreal.
The killing of Dequavious Graves, 31, has triggered a joint investigation involving postal inspectors and other agencies because he was attacked while working a federal job. The reward reflects how rare and serious on-duty attacks on mail carriers are, and it comes as investigators say they still do not know who fired the shots or why. Officials have released few public details about a suspect, and the case has left neighbors and co-workers trying to understand how a normal delivery shift ended in violence.
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 said. His mother, Shannon Graves, said she sensed something was wrong when Grady Memorial Hospital called her later that night. She said she rushed to the hospital thinking her son had been hurt in an accident. Instead, she said, staff told her her only child had died. “Just the thought of him not coming home that day, me not speaking to him, that’s what hurts the most,” she said.
Authorities have not described what led up to the shooting, whether Graves was approached by someone on the street or whether the attack appeared targeted. Investigators have also not said whether anything was taken from him. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm that investigates crimes involving the mail, said the reward is for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. The agency has warned the public that whoever killed Graves should be considered armed and dangerous, while emphasizing that tips from residents can help narrow the search.
Graves had worked for the Postal Service for about three years, officials said. Family members described him as reliable and upbeat, someone who built relationships along his route. His mother said he was known as a “momma’s boy” who could make her laugh and who talked with people he met each day. Relatives said residents on his route often greeted him with small kindnesses, offering snacks or water when the weather was hot. Those small exchanges, his family said, made him feel like he belonged in the community he served.
Outside of work, relatives said Graves poured time into music, both as a creative outlet and as a way to bring people together. His cousin, Nosakhere Andrews, said Graves loved producing and filming music projects and was the person friends called when they needed help making something happen. Andrews said the news left him stunned. “I can’t believe it. I’m dazed,” he said, describing how the loss kept replaying in his mind. Family members said Graves was proud of balancing a steady job with a passion that made him feel alive.
The Postal Service said it would provide counseling services to employees at the Wesley Chapel Post Office as the investigation continues. Postal work is often solitary, with carriers spending long stretches on neighborhood streets, and the agency’s statement reflected concern for co-workers who may be grieving while still trying to complete routes. Investigators have not said whether Graves was alone at the moment he was shot, and they have not described any witnesses publicly. Officials also have not released a detailed timeline of the minutes after the shooting, including who called 911.
Federal and local authorities say they are working to piece together what happened along Oxford Drive and nearby streets that evening. In similar cases, investigators canvass for doorbell-camera video, speak with residents who were home around the time of the shooting, and trace the victim’s last known movements to pinpoint where the first contact occurred. Officials have not said what evidence they have collected so far or whether they have recovered a weapon. They also have not announced any arrests or named any suspects tied to Graves’ death at this stage of the investigation.
For Graves’ family, the days since the shooting have become a blur of phone calls, memories, and questions that have no answers yet. His mother said she struggles with the gap between how her son started his shift and how it ended. Relatives said they want the focus to remain on finding the person responsible and on remembering Graves as more than the moment he was killed. They described him as a son, cousin, and friend who planned for the future and who cared about making people around him smile.
Investigators said the reward remains available as they continue to seek information about the shooting that happened Feb. 12, and they have not publicly identified a motive or a suspect. Officials said the case remains active, with more investigative updates expected as leads are evaluated in the days ahead.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.