PANAMA CITY — A trial date has been set in the case of a man accused of shooting his neighbor, Steven Justin Ayers, the day he brought home his newborn son, according to court documents.
Charles Shisler, 63, was arrested on several charges after a single round from a 9mm Luger traveled more than 200 feet into the home of his 33-year-old neighbor, Ayers. The stray bullet struck Ayers in the back of the head June 17, killing him instantly. Shisler allegedly admitted he accidentally fired the gun, according to official reports.
A trial date on the charges of manslaughter with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine was set for April 20.
However, a motion to suppress physical evidence seized in a police search of Shisler’s home remains unresolved. Shisler’s attorney has argued officers did not have reliable evidence to obtain a search warrant, according to court documents.
Shisler’s attorney also has filed documents to suppress Shisler’s comments following arrest from the trial, saying that since there was not probable cause for the arrest, the comments were “illegally obtained,” according to court documents.
After being arrested, Shisler told officers the shooting was accidental, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
“The damn gun doesn’t usually shoot,” Shisler’s arrest report quoted him as saying. “You have to squeeze the hell out of the trigger to shoot it.”
Ayers and his wife had gathered family members to celebrate the homecoming of their 3-day-old baby — born on Father’s Day. But the celebration at 2502 Michigan Court ended shortly after 6 p.m. when the stray bullet entered the home from more than 200 feet away.
The bullet traveled out of Shisler’s window screen, through about 60 feet of medium-density woods, through the Ayers’ back porch glass door and into their home before striking Ayers in the back of the head.
Shisler was arrested, and a blood test taken more than four hours after the incident indicated Shisler had a blood alcohol content of 0.079, BCSO reported. Shisler was initially uncooperative with deputies and “extremely belligerent,” according to arrest reports.
Authorities filed additional charges of methamphetamine possession against Shisler the next day. BCSO allegedly found a glass pipe and “shake and bake” kit in Shisler’s residence. Both items tested positive for methamphetamine residue, authorities said.