PANAMA CITY — Police released the identity of the city’s 10th victim of fatal gun violence Monday as the search for his shooter continues, the Panama City Police Department announced Monday.
Christopher Coleman, 21, was killed in what authorities called a targeted attack, according to a press release from the PCPD. He died shortly after the incident in the 700 block of 13th Court.
No arrests have been made, as police disclosed they’re looking for “a black male wearing black clothing.” Detectives are currently asking the public for assistance in identifying the suspect.
--- TWO DEAD IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS ---
Coleman also is known as “ “Murda.”
In his past, had an extensive history of criminal accusations involving drugs and guns, but few convictions in his history, according to court records. He had been charged with accessory to armed robbery in October 2011 and discharging a firearm from his vehicle into another vehicle in March of 2011. But both those charges were either dropped or acquitted by a jury, respectively.
Coleman pleaded no contest to improperly exhibiting a firearm in the March incident where he was accused of firing seven .45-caliber shots beginning at an intersection east of Seventh Street and Sherman Avenue. A passenger in the vehicle, Sammie Underwood III, pleaded no contest to principal to firing the shots.
Underwood was released on probation and Coleman got time served. In October, police arrested the two and a third man for armed burglary of a Macedonia Garden Apartments. Investigators believed Coleman and the third man remained outside as Underwood forced open the door with a .38-caliber handgun and fired into the apartment, in an attempt to shoot its inhabitant.
The three were arrested together a short time later. Charges against Coleman were dropped, but Underwood pleaded no contest to discharging a firearm in public and was sentenced to almost two years in prison, according to court records.
Underwood, also known as “Trigger Tre,” is currently in jail on charges of several pending felonies and was arrested after investigators found DNA evidence of a connection to the unsolved slaying of 17-year-old Samuel McGriff again at Macedonia apartments in June of this year.
McGriff, at the time, was the fourth victim to die in shootings in the city this year.
--- TWO DEAD IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS ---
Coleman’s death brings the toll of gun-related slayings to 10, most of which have been concentrated to two areas.
Though some of the names of victims and suspects are recurring and the shootings concentrated to areas, PCPD spokesman officer Richard Thore said police have found no confirmation the shootings are related.
Anyone having information regarding the shooting of Coleman is urged to call Detective Rogers of the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or they can report their tips anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.