Warner Robins man sentenced to 20 years in brother’s killing

Prosecutors say the shooting happened during a dispute at a Warner Robins apartment complex.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Warner Robins man has been sentenced to the maximum prison term after pleading guilty to killing his brother during a domestic dispute last year.

According to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office, 31-year-old Joseph Daniel Schaarschmidt pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his brother, Augustus Schaarschmidt. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The case stems from a shooting on January 28, 2024, at the Skylar Pointe Apartments on Olympia Drive in Warner Robins.

Warner Robins police officers were dispatched to the apartment complex after reports of a shooting. Authorities said officers established a perimeter and encountered an emotionally distraught witness who told officers the incident involved two brothers.

Investigators said Joseph Schaarschmidt had walked into nearby woods after the shooting but later returned to the scene. While being arrested, he made a spontaneous statement to officers, saying he loved his brother and was sorry.

According to investigators, Schaarschmidt had been involved earlier that day in a dispute with the witness, who had previously been in a romantic relationship with him. Prosecutors said Schaarschmidt was armed with a handgun during that dispute.

During the confrontation, authorities said Augustus Schaarschmidt arrived at the apartment and tried to intervene. That is when he was shot in the chest.

Prosecutors said there were no known prior issues between the brothers, but both had documented mental health struggles, which the district attorney’s office said contributed to the outcome.

Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards called the case a reminder of how quickly violence can destroy families.

“Only one of these two brothers will ever return home, and even that will only be after spending 20 years in a prison cell,” he said. “There are never any winners when a firearm is introduced into a dispute like this.”