A north Fulton attorney accused of running over and killing a real estate investor during an argument will be allowed to leave Georgia while out on bond to visit family for Thanksgiving.
Bryan Keith Schmitt, 47, of Sandy Springs, was previously granted a $500,000 bond, but he had to surrender his passport and driver's license and was ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Judge Kevin Farmer has granted Schmitt's request to have his bond amended, allowing him to visit family in Colorado over Thanksgiving week, court records show.
Schmitt was indicted in August on murder, felony murder and aggravated assault charges in the death of east Cobb County resident Hamid Jahangard.
RELATED: Police: Attorney said fight over golf ball led to death of Atlanta investor
Credit: H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel obituary
Credit: H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel obituary
Police said Schmitt ran over the 60-year-old developer with his Mercedes after Jahangard allegedly hit his sedan with a golf ball.
Paramedics responding to the scene found Jahangard lying at the end of a long driveway shared by four homes in the 300 block of River Valley Road. He died at a hospital three days later.
Schmitt was granted bond over the objections of Jahangard’s children, who described their father as a loving, caring man. Farmer previously said he didn’t consider Schmitt to be a flight risk.
MORE: Attorney's bond set at $500K following deadly road-rage incident
Credit: GoFundMe
Credit: GoFundMe
In late October, Schmitt filed a motion asking the court to approve “travel to visit family in Parker Colorado, from Tues., Nov. 26 through Friday, Nov. 29.” The judge granted that request on Thursday.
In multiple interviews with police, Schmitt said he was passing the Sandy Springs driveway when he saw Jahangard leaning over a green, county-issued trash can. He said Jahangard made a throwing motion with his arm before something, a rock or golf ball, hit the Mercedes.
A golf ball was found near the scene, police said, but there was no damage to the car.
Schmitt admitted turning around and confronting Jahangard in the driveway, but told investigators he never meant to run over the man.
The attorney told police as he tried to pull into the driveway, Jahangard threw the trash can in front of his car to stop him. He swerved, he said, but could not avoid hitting Jahangard in the process.
After giving his initial statement to officers, he was allowed to take his car and drive the two miles back to his home.
He was charged nearly two weeks later after investigators determined Jahangard's death was no accident.
Jail records show Schmitt was released after putting up 10% of his $500,000 bond.
In other news:
About the Author
