Arrest made after shots fired erupt at popular Panama City Beach restaurant Thursday night
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- 18-year-old Isaiah Tyshawn McKenzie arrested after firing shots from vehicle at Hammerhead Fred's restaurant Thursday night.
- No firearm found inside restaurant; McKenzie allegedly fired gun into air from vehicle to alarm evacuating crowd.
A Panama City Beach restaurant turned into chaos Thursday night when crowds begin to flee and shots erupted.
The incident occurred around 11:16 P.M. on April 3, 2025, at Hammerhead Fred’s.
Chaos unfolded shortly before 11:20 P.M. on April 3, 2025, when patrons quickly began fleeing from Hammerhead Fred’s, who was hosting an all-ages event. Officers from the Panama City Beach Police Department and surrounding agencies were already on scene managing a large crowd when chaos erupted, including these officers hearing four gunshots from the vicinity of the parking lot.
Image: PCBPD
During the chaos, officers swiftly responded and apprehended 18-year-old Isaiah Tyshawn McKenzie, from Dothan, AL, who was located inside a vehicle nearby.
“The investigation revealed that patrons inside the establishment believed someone near the restroom area might have possessed a firearm, prompting a rapid evacuation. Currently, police have not confirmed the actual presence of a firearm inside Hammerhead Fred’s,” police said. “Howeyer, as patrons were exiting, McKenzie allegedly made statements to his companions about firing his gun to further alarm the crowd. He subsequently discharged multiple rounds into the air from his vehicle. No injuries were reported during this incident.”
McKenzie has been charged with Discharging a Firearm in Public from a Vehicle, Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony improper Exhibition of a Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, and Tampering with Evidence
He was transported to the Bay County Jail following his arrest.
This case remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Panama City Beach Police Department at (850) 233-5000 immediately.
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