Matthew Lanz: Atlanta-area man charged with murdering a couple in their home and stabbing a police officer
Officers discovered Lanz inside the mansion when they arrived and a confrontation ensued, the statement said. Officers tried unsuccessfully to subdue Lanz by using a Taser on him, and that’s when Lanz repeatedly stabbed one of the responding officers.
Officials said Lanz was also taken to an area hospital following the shooting.
According to the SSPD, Lanz had no connection to the neighborhood where the theft took place and did not know the owner.
Couple killed in their home
Lanz was later identified as a suspect in Thursday’s murder of a married couple in Acworth, where he lives, according to a press release from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department. Acworth is about 25 miles northwest of Sandy Springs.
The pair were found dead in their home from gunshot wounds. Cobb County Sheriffs said a 2-year-old was also in the home but was unharmed. Investigators said in the statement that the incident appeared to have happened overnight, but they did not give a specific timeline.
Lanz faces two counts of murder and multiple other counts, including home invasion, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and attempted murder in connection with the two incidents, according to the SSPD. In Cobb County, the release said he is being charged with two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, home invasion and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
CNN has reached out to Lanz’s court-appointed attorney for comment but did not receive a response.
Lanz was transferred to the Fulton County Jail after he was released from the hospital, both the SSPD and Cobb County said in their release. He is still in custody, according to prison records.
Court records show he appeared in court for the first time on Friday. His next court date has yet to be posted.