The Panama City Beach Police Department announces the arrest of Christopher Lawrence Cox, 37, of Panama City Beach, Florida, on charges of one open count of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The arrest stems from a call at the Shores of Panama, 9900 S. Thomas Drive, at 1:30 a.m. today, in reference to a shooting beachside.
A preliminary investigation revealed that two juvenile family members were on vacation visiting Panama City Beach from the Louisville, Kentucky area when they encountered Cox on the beach.
Officers are still investigating the events of what occurred between the three prior to the shooting.
Upon arrival officers observed a white male (Cox) fleeing the location, and he was subsequently detained without incident. Officers found a white male juvenile lying beachside deceased from gunshot wounds to the upper body. Officers located another white male juvenile at the complex with gunshot wounds to his extremities. That juvenile was transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in Panama City, where he was treated and released. The two victims were stepbrothers on vacation with their family.
Officers received a description of the suspect from the second victim. Cox, who coincidentally was originally from the Louisville, Kentucky area also, was transported to the Panama City Beach Police Department where he made incriminating statements about his involvement in the shooting. Cox was transported to the Bay County Jail to await his first appearance. This case is still open and under investigation.
The Police Department would like to emphasize this incident, while occurring during the Spring Break vacation season, is in no way Spring Break related.
