Three Jamaican men have been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of a fellow Jamaican and the injuring of his girlfriend in Panama City Beach, Florida.
The Panama City Beach Police Department identified the deceased as O’Neil McDonald, a resident of Panama City Beach who was visiting an apartment complex at the time of the incident.
McDonald, who was 23 years old and the son of a former Jamaican national football player, was found dead near building 1300 by responding officers. A 21-year-old woman, who was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound, was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover.
The three suspects, all from Panama City Beach, have been identified as Andre Jermaine Ranglin, 23; Devaughn Devante Jones, 23; and Ricardo Everton Golden, 37. Ranglin faces charges including one count of murder, one count of attempted capital murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, firing a deadly missile into an occupied dwelling, and attempted armed burglary. Jones is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and destruction of evidence, while Golden is also charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
The incident occurred at the 10X Apartment complex on Panama City Beach Parkway, where police responded to a report of shots fired. They found McDonald with multiple gunshot wounds and the woman suffering from a single wound. She was provided with first aid at the scene before being transported to the hospital, where she underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
Investigations revealed that the shooting was the result of an ongoing dispute between McDonald and Ranglin. According to police, Ranglin arrived at the apartment complex armed with a handgun, fired multiple shots at McDonald, chased him through the parking lot, and ultimately killed him. Ranglin also shot the female victim as she attempted to enter her apartment, hitting her through the door.
After the shooting, Ranglin reportedly contacted Jones, who assisted him in trying to leave the area. Golden allegedly picked them up and drove to Bonifay, aware of the crime and assisting for financial gain. Police say Jones disposed of the suspected murder weapon in a dumpster at a motel in Bonifay.
Ranglin and Jones were later located by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force hiding at a motel in Dothan, Alabama. They are currently being held in Houston County, Alabama, awaiting extradition, while Golden is in custody at the Bay County Jail.
Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez condemned the violence, calling it a senseless act that could have been avoided. “As we have seen tragically around this country, what typically was resolved with general fist fights is now resulted with gun violence,” Talamantez said. “This coward decided to take a gun into a situation and end an argument he had with a colleague, and now I can’t begin to tell you how many families are torn apart by this senseless act of violence.”
