Christian Musicians Killed Over a Crown Vic

June 20, 2008— -- Two men have been charged with capital murder for allegedly gunning down a pair of Christian musicians outside a Texas recording studio and taking off in one of the victim's cars.

Demarious Dwight Cummings and James Broadnax, both 19, of Texarkana, were arrested late Thursday night about 170 miles from the spot where Matthew Butler, 28, and Steve Swan, 26, were found dead early that morning. Each suspect faces capital murder charges and will be held on $1 million bond.

A third suspect, 18-year-old Lonnie Harris, was also arrested and originally charged in the murders, but was released by police late this afternoon. "We don't believe that he had anything to do with it," Lt. Joe Harn, a spokesman for the Garland Police Department, confirmed to ABC News.

Texas authorities allege the motive for the murders was the theft of a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria that belonged to one of the murder victims and ultimately tied the trio to the crime.

Police in Texarkana arrested the three teenagers shortly before 8 p.m. CT after a traffic stop in a rough section of town. A search of the license plates on the tan-colored Crown Victoria had come back as belonging to a Cadillac.

A patrolman saw the same vehicle parked near the scene of a police officer assault an hour earlier, Sgt. Shawn Fitzgerald, a spokesman for the Texarkana Police Department, told ABC News.

A local warrant check found that all three Texarkana residents had outstanding warrants and the three were taken into custody. Fitzgerald said that the suspects have all had brushes with Texarkana police in the past on lesser charges, including burglary, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Texarkana police then ran the true vehicle registration number and immediately learned that the Crown Victoria was potentially involved in a double homicide that occurred early Thursday morning 170 miles away in Garland, Texas.

"We got a hit back from the Garland Police Department saying that that vehicle might have been used in the double murder," Fitzgerald said.

A passing bicyclist found Butler and Swan around 1:20 a.m. Thursday. Both had been shot several times on the sidewalk in front of the Zion Gate recording studio, a music business specializing in contemporary Christian music that Butler opened in 2005 and where his friend Swan worked as an engineer. Both were dead at the scene, according to the Garland Police Department.

Texarkana police notified authorities in Garland and around 1 a.m., the lead investigator in the double homicide arrived to serve three warrants for capital murder. The suspects and car were handed over to the Garland Police Department, Fitzgerald said. It was unclear whether possible murder weapons were recovered from the car.

"If convicted, they will get life in prison or the death penalty," Fitzgerald said. "This is the most heinous crime you can have in Texas."

Butler was the subject of a 2006 Dallas Morning News profile about his effort to launch a recording studio that specialized in contemporary Christian music. He was recently married, had a baby boy and a girl on the way. Despite those responsibilities and the financial risk, his wife, Jamie, gave her blessing to his new enterprise.

Butler told ABC News' Dallas affiliate, WFAA, that her husband had achieved many of his goals before the shooting.

"His dream was to be a dad and have a family and a business," Butler said of her husband. "And he did that, and he was only 28 years old. For him, when he took his last breath, he was happy."

The studio's Web site features a photograph of Butler and Swan, described as friends and colleagues, and short obituaries for each. Butler is described as a devoted son, husband and father who was passionate about music and a talented songwriter. He overcame bi-polar disorder before starting his business.

"Matt was always compassionate of others and their needs, on several occasions he gave away some of his possessions to someone else in need," according to the tribute. "When you met him, you just knew there was something special about him and automatically liked him."

Swan was described as a funny, helpful music-maker who volunteered time and money to the Texas Border Volunteers, a group that helps law enforcement patrol the border for illegal immigrants. "It is impossible to note how much we will miss Steve because it is impossible to believe that he is gone," his friends wrote. "A remarkable friend was lost and no one will ever forget his impact."

Friends and family have planned a jam session in honor of Butler and Swan at the studio Sunday afternoon. A funeral will be held for Butler Monday. Arrangements for Swan's burial have yet to be finalized.