Apparent Self-Defense Homicide Occurs at Hotel

Gwinnett County Police officers responded to a report of a person shot at the Extended Stay Deluxe at 3390 Venture Parkway in unincorporated Duluth at about 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. 

Responding officers located Kia Yvette Jeffries, 37, outside near the building. She had serious injuries to her head and face. Jeffries told officers she had shot her husband in self-defense, according to Cpl. Jake Smith in a media release.

Officers located Jeffries’ husband, Earnest Mahir Abdul-Mateen, 46, lying in the hallway. He had been shot, but was able to tell officers that Jeffries had shot him. Both were transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Abdul-Mateen died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit have been assigned the case, Smith reported. They determined that Abdul-Mateen used a handgun to hit Jeffries repeatedly, until he was exhausted. At that point, Jeffries managed to turn the gun on Abdul-Mateen and pull the trigger, he said. 

Jeffries has not been charged with the homicide, nor are there any charges pending, Smith said. Detectives consider this case a self-defense shooting. The case is still under investigation. At the time of this incident, Abdul-Mateen had active warrants against him (from the Dunwoody Police Department) for false imprisonment and battery stemming from a prior incident with Jeffries.