PANAMA CITY — A teenager who was shot in a local apartment complex has become the fifth victim to die from gun-related violence in Panama City in less than a month.
Samuel McGriff Jr., 17, was shot about 4:30 a.m. Thursday while he was standing in an outdoor common area of the Macedonia Gardens Apartment complex on 17th Street. Panama City Police later found McGriff shot in the gut in the kitchen of unit C-102, according to police reports.
McGriff was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition Thursday evening. However, early Friday morning hospital officials notified PCPD that McGriff had died.
PCPD is investigating the shooting as a homicide case, pending the results of an autopsy, according to a news release.
McGriff was the fifth victim to die from an outbreak of shooting violence in Panama City in less than a month, but he was not the first teen life to be claimed by a gun in that time.
“We’ve had an unfortunate amount of people settling disagreements with violence,” said Panama City Police Chief Scott Ervin. “People are making these decisions in milliseconds and that is the way they choose to resolve those issues.”
Police are not certain about what transpired prior to the shooting in Macedonia but have said McGriff recently had returned from a nightclub. Ervin said evidence gathered so far indicates the incident was “directed activity,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean someone was walking down the road and were randomly targeted,” Ervin said. “There might have been some arguing or some kind of exchange between the parties, but it is too early to tell.”
Police have been cautious to label the incidents as drug- or gang-related, especially in McGriff’s case. McGriff had no history of violence or criminal activity.
Jshun Smith, 19, was shot and killed outside a Panama City nightclub June 9 allegedly after an argument involving the girlfriend of the shooter. Khiry Ross, 24, and Marcus Mathis, 25, both Panama City residents, were arrested in connection to the shooting. Ross has been charged with Smith’s death.
Leonard Price, 38, of Panama City, was shot at close range May 28 in the yard of a Carver Road home. Police have arrested 28-year-old Michael Davis and charged him with murder.
Xavier Buckler, 23, and Marqueze McGhee, 25, both of Panama City, were shot and killed at a Millville gas station May 24, and 26-year-old Dalrico Franklin was shot in the leg but survived. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.
Ervin said police are investigating leads into Thursday’s shooting but did not identify suspects Friday.
PCPD encouraged anyone with information on this case to contact Detective Jeff Rogers at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS (8477).
An earlier version of this story is below:
PANAMA CITY — A teenager who was shot in a local apartment complex has died from his injuries.
Samuel McGriff Jr., 17, was shot while standing in an outdoor common area of the Macedonia Gardens Apartment complex, according to police reports. McGriff was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where on the evening of Thursday his condition was listed as stable. However, early Friday morning the Panama City Police Department was notified that McGriff had died in the hospital.
PCPD is investigating the shooting as a homicide case, pending the results of an autopsy. McGriff is the sixth victim to die from gun-related violence in Panama City in less than a month.
Because the investigation is ongoing, PCPD would only release limited information.
No suspects have been identified.
The Panama City Police Department encourages those with any information in reference to this case to contact Detective Jeff Rogers at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or they can be reported anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.