STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY: Simply in Wrong Place: Three AAMU Students Victims of Shooting During Close of Spring Break
Alabama A&M University administrative and law enforcement officials have reviewed reports related to the March 28 shooting of seven individuals on Spring Break in the vicinity of Panama City Beach, Fla. Of the seven, AAMU officials have confirmed that three of the victims, all female, are AAMU students.
The AAMU students are: Twenty-year-old Kearria Freed, who remains hospitalized in critical condition; Kelli Regina Curry, 20, who is listed in stable condition; and Annesia Powell, 19, who is currently undergoing surgery.
The shooter, 22-year-old David Jamichael Daniels of Mobile, Ala., has been arrested by the Panama City Beach Sheriff’s Office. The suspect is not an AAMU student.
AAMU’s Lt. William Schumake noted that a Bay County investigator stated that the AAMU students were “innocent victims in the wrong place when an altercation broke out resulting in shots being fired.”
The University is mobilizing its counseling services for students or personnel who might be traumatized by the incident and has dispatched campus personnel to Mobile, Ala. Meanwhile, the campus is issuing a call for prayers for the victims’ speedy recovery. Updates will be forthcoming as they become available.
Photo Credit: WAFF
EARLIER REPORT – 3/28/15: The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple 911 calls at 12:55 a.m. this morning in reference to a shooting at 5312 Thomas Drive.
Deputies and investigators with the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division responded to the chaotic scene to find seven shooting victims. Three victims were found in the home, one in front of the house, one in the median of Thomas Drive, and two across the street from the home.
EMS responded to quickly treat and transport victims.
Several of the victims are students at Alabama A&M University visiting Panama City Beach for Spring Break.
The victims were identified as: Kearria Freed, age 20, of Mobile, Alabama, was shot in the head and remains in critical condition; Anesia Powell, age 20, was shot in the left arm, chest, and knee; Devanta Moore, age 21, was shot in the chest; Jacole Young, age 22, was shot in the back three times; Kelli Curry, age 21, was shot in the leg; Tykeria Ethridge, age 22, of Mobile, Alabama, was shot in the neck and shoulder; Henton Franklin age 22, of Mobile, Alabama, was shot in the side.
Latest update on the condition of the victims is as follows: Powell is now in surgery at a local hospital: Freed, Moore, and Franklin remain hospitalized in critical condition; Young,Curry, and Etheridge remain hospitalized in stable condition.
A description of the suspect was developed and disseminated. Responding units set a perimeter around the residence and a black male matching the description of the suspect was quickly located and detained at Beach Drive and Hurt Street. Witnesses to the shooting confirmed the subject was the shooter and he was identified as David Jamichael Daniels, a black male, age 22, of Mobile, Alabama.
A 40 caliber handgun matching the description of the one used in the shooting was recovered in the back yard of a residence on Beach Drive.
David Jamichael Daniels has been charged with seven counts of Attempted Murder and is currently in the Bay County Jail awaiting first appearance today.
This was the sixth firearm related call of the evening. In one incident a firearm was discharged inside a condominium. Four firearms were seized in drug related cases.
Assisting agencies were the Florida Highway Patrol, Panama City Beach Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
