Man sentenced to 5 years for shooting

PANAMA CITY — A Panama City man who avoided a possible murder charge when a finger deflected a bullet was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.

Jamichael Middleton, 22, initially was charged in November with attempted murder after police said he pointed a .380 caliber handgun and fired at Billy Ray Hunt’s head outside of 741 Sherman Ave., Hunt’s home. One of the bullets “grazed the victim’s left index finger” and was deflected — a chance occurrence that possibly saved both men’s lives. If the bullet had missed the finger and killed Hunt, Middleton could have faced murder charges and the possibility of the death penalty.

Middleton pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession of a firearm Friday for a five-year prison sentence.

According to Middleton’s arrest records, he and Hunt were standing outside the victim’s Sherman Avenue home when Middleton leveled the .380 at Hunt’s head and began firing. One of the bullets grazed Hunt’s left finger when he raised his hand to protect his face. Hunt then retreated into his home, but Middleton kept firing, sending bullets into the home, according to court records.

A warrant issued for Middleton’s arrest noted Hunt’s wife and children were inside the home and that one of the bullets lodged into a bed frame at the rear of the home. 

Middleton was arrested days later at the Days Inn on Front Beach Road, according to his arrest affidavit.

Authorities said during a search of Middleton’s room that Bay County Sheriff’s deputies found about 4 grams of cocaine in a safe in the room. Deputies also found 1 gram of marijuana during the search. 

Initial reports stated the victim refused treatment for the injury to his left index finger.