Schmitt murdered Shelton Earl Dunning, a security guard at NationsBank in Bon Air, on February 17, 1999.  Witnesses testified that Schmitt entered the bank wearing sunglasses, which attracted Dunning’s attention.  Dunning followed Schmitt into the building where Schmitt stepped toward Dunning and shot him twice.  Schmitt then brandished a gun and demanded money from the bank tellers.  Schmitt fled the bank with more than $35,000.  He was arrested three days later.

 Schmitt’s principal defense to the charge of capital murder was that none of the witnesses, nor any of the 11 bank surveillance cameras, saw exactly what transpired before Schmitt shot Dunning.  In addition to the death sentence, Schmitt received a 118 year prison sentence for charges related to the murder and robbery.

 Schmitt has been on death row since June 15, 2000.