Four arrested after Bayou George shooting, victim hospitalized

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Four people were arrested after a drug deal turned violent, sending one man to the hospital with a gunshot wound, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers responded to a shooting the morning of Oct. 12 at a residence on Charles Road in Bayou George. When they arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the back. Investigators determined the victim agreed to sell marijuana to another man and got into a vehicle with two other people.

The situation escalated when the driver attacked the victim and shot him with a pistol. The victim was then pushed out of the vehicle and the suspects fled the scene.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries and remains hospitalized.

Within an hour of the incident, investigators located the suspect’s vehicle parked at a residence in Springfield. The victim’s phone was found in the car. Officers obtained a search warrant for the home, vehicle and another vehicle related to the case.

Four firearms were recovered during the search, including three handguns, one of which was identified as the weapon used in the shooting. Investigators also found 23 grams of marijuana. There were a total of ten people in the apartment, seven of whom were between the ages of 15 and 20.

Authorities arrested 18-year-old Dexter Owens of Panama City on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery with a firearm. Owens is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Nathan Alexander, 19, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a firearm and probation violation for a prior firearm-related offense. Alexander is being held without bail on the probation violation charge, with an additional $100,000 bond on the new charges.

Juliana Connelly, 18, who was not involved in the shooting or robbery, was charged with possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and violating probation for a previous charge of burglary causing bodily harm. Connelly is being held without bail on the pretrial release violation charge.

Ayden Saliba, 19, of Panama City, was also arrested for possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and violating probation for a previous firearm-related charge. Saliba is being held without bail.

The investigation is ongoing.

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