PORT ST. JOE — A hearing scheduled for Monday to hear a motion to dismiss murder charges against Walt Butler was canceled after the motion was withdrawn without a reason provided by defense attorneys.
Butler’s attorneys filed a motion May 21 for the dismissal of criminal charges in the shooting death of Everett Gant and cited Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law,” which justifies the use of deadly force if someone believes force is necessary to prevent death or harm to themselves or another.
The motion said that Butler believed he was entitled to immunity from arrest and prosecution.
A pre-trial hearing was set for Monday morning at the Gulf County Courthouse.
With the withdrawal of the motion, Butler’s pre-trial hearing was set for Oct. 8.
Last July, Gant approached Butler’s Pine Ridge apartment after Butler had been accused of using racial slurs directed at children in the apartment complex.
Butlershot Gant between the eyes with a .22 rifle and left him bleeding on the doorstep before calling 911 and sitting back down to finish his dinner.
He expressed inconvenience that he had been arrested, saying he could not understand the problem as he “only shot a (racial epithet),” according to the arresting affidavit.
Six weeks after the shooting, Gant died from the injuries.