Macon man sentenced to 40 years in fatal shooting, robbery

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the shooting happened March 29, 2023.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Macon man was sentenced to 40 years after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and several other charges in connection with a 2023 fatal shooting, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Keywan Capers pleaded guilty August 27 to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by taking and robbery by intimidation in the shooting death of Christopher Matthew Rachalla. Capers was sentenced to 40 years, with the first 20 years to be served.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the shooting happened March 29, 2023, after Capers was involved in an argument with his girlfriend at an apartment on Brookhaven Road. The District Attorney’s Office says Capers, who was intoxicated, demanded to drive his girlfriend’s car and struck her when she refused. The argument then moved outside.

Rachalla, who lived nearby, came outside after hearing the disturbance and confronted Capers. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Rachalla was warned that Capers was armed. Rachalla said he was also armed and displayed his firearm.

Witnesses told investigators the confrontation ended with Capers shooting Rachalla, taking his firearm and fleeing in the car. Deputies responded around 6:30 p.m. and found Rachalla suffering from gunshot wounds.

A lookout for the vehicle led officers to Capers in Monroe County. Following a brief pursuit, during which officers fired at the car’s tire, Capers surrendered. He has been held at the Bibb County jail since his arrest.

Capers received 20 years to serve for voluntary manslaughter and a concurrent 20 years to serve for robbery by intimidation, along with additional consecutive and concurrent probation terms on the remaining charges, for a total sentence of 40 years.

As conditions of his sentence, Capers is banned from the Macon Judicial Circuit, including Interstate 75, barred from possessing firearms, alcohol or drugs without a prescription and ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend or Rachalla’s family.

Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard released the following statement:

“Keywan Capers took a man’s life over a car and a pointless argument, then tried to run,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard. “Even with real challenges in this case, our office secured a sentence that holds him accountable and keeps this community safer.”