PANAMA CITY — Charges have been dropped against a woman accused of firing a gun at a snake on school grounds, according to court documents.
April Dawn DeMarco, 30, was arrested for discharging a .380-caliber handgun on the practice football field of Bay High School, 300 E. 15th St., during an October practice for the local Pop Warner football team. Demarco said she was trying to protect the children from a moccasin at the time, and the surrounding coaches were ineffective at removing the threat.
Demarco admitted to police that she took a shot at the snake to protect children watching and participating in the practice, herself being a parent, according to PCPD reports. The children were about 20 to 50 yards away when Demarco took one shot at the snake, missing wide. She was later arrested and charged with possessing a firearm on school grounds and discharging the firearm on the campus.
Demarco argued that none of the authority figures present took action to protect the children. Prosecutors agreed Wednesday to drop the gun charges against Demarco. Her combined bond of $3,000 also was released.