In the quiet neighborhood of Belvedere Park in Decatur, Georgia, a series of events unfolded on the evening of March 29, 2021, that would end in the tragic death of 58-year-old William Stevenson. That night, Joseph Schaber, a 40-year-old homeowner, was watching the evening news when he received a motion alert on his phone from a security camera positioned at his back door.
This notification set in motion a fatal confrontation.
Upon receiving the alert, Schaber went to his back door to investigate and saw Stevenson in his backyard. Believing the man was attempting to break into his home, Schaber, armed with a. 40-caliber handgun, confronted him. According to the police report, Stevenson never entered Schaber's home, nor was there any damage to the property. In fact, evidence from the scene suggested that Stevenson was attempting to flee when he was shot multiple times by Schaber.
When police and paramedics arrived at the Laguna Drive home around 10 p.m., they found William Stevenson deceased. Joseph Schaber cooperated with the officers, recounting his version of the events and handing over his weapon. However, due to the evidence suggesting Stevenson was shot while trying to leave the property, Schaber was taken into custody. He was subsequently jailed and charged with felony murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
