PANAMA CITY BEACH - At about 10 p.m. Tuesday at a residence on Hidden Pines Drive, a man exited his home and saw several men burglarizing his vehicle.
He confronted them and as they fled in a 2006 Ford F150 truck one of the suspects shot at the victim with a 9mm handgun, according to a news release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim was not hit.
Deputies observed the truck leaving the area and attempted a traffic stop. The five suspects evaded the deputy and fled to Laird Avenue. They turned east on Laird, traveling to Thomas Drive, south on Thomas to the curve, then east on Thomas to St. Andrew State Park.
The suspects drove through the barrier and continued through the Park to the Office area and then onto a dirt road, officials wrote. They abandoned the truck when it became stuck in sand. At this point all five fled on foot into the woods.
With the assistance of the Panama City Beach Police, the FWC, and the Florida Highway Patrol, four of the five suspects were quickly located in the boat dock area inside the Park. One of the suspects was attempting to convince a local fisherman to give him a ride away. They were taken into custody. The final suspect was arrested coming out of the woods, the news release states.
The 9mm handgun was located in the Ford F150. It was lying on the floorboard with the hammer back. Further investigation has revealed the gun was stolen in Tallahassee, as was the 2006 Ford F150. The truck was stolen during an armed carjacking in Tallahassee on May 12.
Statements taken from the suspects revealed they originally came to Bay County for Spring Break 2014 and returned to continue their crime spree, officials wrote in a news release.
BCSO investigators continue to uncover additional victims today in multiple car burglaries in Bay County allegedly committed by these five suspects, officials added.
Lawrence Woodard, 21, Vaughtrail Jerger, 17, Keontal Watson, 17, Alphonso Brooks, 17, Renard Andre O’Neill, 19, all of Tallahassee were charged with armed burglary and resisting officer without violence. Renard was identified as the driver of the truck and was charged additionally with felony fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of traffic crash, driving with license suspended or revoked and petit theft.