A Keokuk man initially facing firearms charges in connection with a deadly shooting last summer is now accused of murder following new developments in the investigation.
On Wednesday, officers with the Keokuk Police Department arrested 27-year-old Matthew Thomas Miller, charging him with second-degree murder in the July 28, 2024, shooting death of Colby Deck, also 27 and from Keokuk.
The arrest marks a significant turn in the case. Authorities say that during the months-long investigation, they uncovered key inconsistencies in Miller’s account of what happened that night.
Originally, Miller told police that Deck had struck his vehicle with another car, prompting him to fire a single shot from ground level near the vehicle he claimed to be in. That shot, according to Miller, was in self-defense.
But after what police described as a “very thorough and intensive investigation,” new evidence emerged that raised doubts about that version of events. Though officials have not publicly detailed the discrepancies, they were evidently serious enough to support the upgraded charge of second-degree murder.
As of now, Miller remains in custody. Further court proceedings will determine the next steps in what has become a high-profile case for the southeast Iowa community.
