PANAMA CITY — The suspect in a Spring Break house party shooting has yet to be arraigned on the seven attempted murder charges against him, but he appeared in court Wednesday for a pretrial conference.
David Jamichael Daniels, 21, appeared in court Wednesday to request the appointment of a public defender. After claiming his only asset was a moped, he was granted his request and returned to the Bay County Jail to await a May 22 arraignment in connection with a Spring Break shooting at a Thomas Drive house party.
Daniels allegedly was spotted by witnesses smoking synthetic marijuana before gunfire ripped through the house party at 5312 Thomas Drive on March 28. Seven college-aged people were injured in the fracas, three of them critically, and Daniels was arrested.
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Police found a gun nearby and allegedly found synthetic marijuana on Daniels.
Despite witness accounts to his drug use and a medical condition since being booked on the charges, prosecutors said Daniels appeared to be competent to proceed.
“I have no reason to think he is incompetent at this time or when he committed the offenses,” prosecutor Larry Basford said during the hearing.
However, Daniels’ newly appointed defense attorney indicated a specialist will be evaluating his mental condition. The reasons for Daniels’ medical treatment since entering jail was not released due to medical privacy laws.
Daniels, of Mobile, Ala., has been charged with seven counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting. His next scheduled court date is May 22, when he will be arraigned on the charges.