WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — After three homicides in the last week in Warner Robins, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick called a press conference with other local officials to talk about solutions to stop the violence in the area.
“That is three too many for the city of Warner Robins,” Patrick said. “We have to do something, if not we are going to see ourselves in the headlines as other cities that we do not want to see ourselves compared to when it comes to negativity.”
On January 28, 30-year-old Augustus Schaarschmidt was shot and killed. His brother, Joseph Schaarschmidt was charged with murder.
Michaela Chaney was found dead on February 3, after police found her abandoned car earlier in the morning at an apartment complex in Warner Robins. Her boyfriend, Jayveon Bivins was arrested and charged with murder.
Less than 12 hours later, a 14-year-old was shot and killed during a fight at a car dealership on Margie Drive. A 13-year-old has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
Patrick was joined by a pair of members of the Warner Robins city council, leaders from Centerville, the Warner Robins Police Department and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office as they discussed potential solutions following the string of violence in the city.
Warner Robins Police Chief Wayne Fisher spoke up about the growing population of Houston County and inside the city.
He said that while the percentages will remain the same, the number of lives impacted by violence will grow as more people move into the county.
Fisher said he feels for the family of the 14-year-old child who will never get to hold their son’s hand again or watch him grow up.
“To lose a 14-year-old young man and the perpetrators to be juveniles as well, to have to console a mother and a father and the family, it’s a tragic situation.” Fisher said. “Words cannot convey the pain and impact across the board.”
Fisher added law enforcement across the county has become more united than ever. Matt Moulton with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office took to the podium to offer their support.
“We have different names, we wear different colored uniforms, we drive different colored cars but this is Houston County,” Moulton said. “The sheriff’s office under the leadership of Sheriff Talton is committed to working with the city of Warner Robins to disrupt, dismantle these organizations that are wreaking havoc on innocent citizens of Houston County.”
Patrick closed out the press conference by reminding people that this type of violence can impact anyone. She mentioned that she was the classmate of the 14-year-old boy’s mother and spoke directly to the family who was in attendance.
“It kind of illustrates that it could hit anyone. This could be anyone’s story. This could be anyone’s reality,” Patrick said. “I hope it brings you a little bit of comfort knowing that we are really trying our best to make sure we get to the root of the problem.”
MORE THAN A NUMBER:
More Than A Number is a Poynter-Stand Together award-winning project by Justin Baxley designed to help families of loved ones impacted by tragedy and trauma interact with journalists in a less intrusive way. Families are able to fill out a form about their family and also receive an in-depth guide on the next steps.
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