Arrest made in Newton County homicide

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Newton County man is in jail, charged with shooting and killing a woman and wounding a man.

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Newton County Sheriff's Office, Photo courtesy of Newton County Ricky Lewis Smith, 44, was arrested Monday on murder charges. Newton County deputies said he killed a woman and wounded a man Sunday night near Covington.

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Deputies arrested Ricky Lewis Smith, 44, on Monday. He is being held in the Newton County jail on charges of murder and aggravated assault, Newton County Sheriff's Lt Mark Mitchell said.

Deputies were called to a home on Bell Street near Covington shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday for a report of gunfire. Officers found Tajuana Lashawn Stroud, 36, dead from an apparent gunshot wound, Mitchell said.

They also found Steven Cadet Smith,42, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

Deputies searched the area and detained Smith for questions. He was charged early Monday.

The two victims and the suspect are all from Covington, deputies said.

A motive and addition details were not available Monday. Mitchell said the shooting remains under investigation.