Shanta Matthews was a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ^{[3] [1]}

Matthews was the partner of Zachary Washington and was the mother of two children. She graduated from Natchez High School in 2004. ^{[1] [3]}

She studied at Jefferson County Technical School and received a certificate in phlebotomy before enrolling at Baton Rouge Community College studying business management. ^{[1] [3]}

Matthews worked as a store manager at a Family Dollar in Baton Rouge. ^{[1] [3]}

On Thursday, February 1, 2018, Matthews was shot and killed in a murder suicide perpetrated by Zachary Washington. ^{[1] [3]}