Latest news with #BayCountySheriff
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Florida Teen, 17, Charged with Murder After Allegedly Shooting Lyft Driver During Memorial Day Weekend
A Florida teenager has been charged with an open count of murder after allegedly shooting a Lyft driver The Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) responded to the shooting report at around 2:24 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24 Brayden Raul Gomez, 17, was later identified as the suspect, according to a BSCO news releaseA Florida teenager has been arrested after allegedly fatally shooting a rideshare driver. At around 2:24 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24, the Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) responded to a report of a shooting on Wildwood Road and Emerald Cove Street in Panama City Beach, authorities said in a news release shared on Facebook. Upon arrival, deputies found a victim with a gunshot wound on the road, and their vehicle located roughly 100 yards north of them. The victim, who police believe was working as a Lyft driver, succumbed to the injury after being transported to a local hospital, per the news release. Their name has not been released. Brayden Raul Gomez, 17, was later located on Dorothy Avenue and identified as the suspect. Authorities believe the victim was driving the Bay County teen to his requested location before the shooting, according to the BCSO. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Lyft said, "Our hearts are with [the victim's] family and loved ones in the midst of this terrible tragedy." "We have reached out to offer support to them during this difficult time and are assisting law enforcement in their ongoing investigation," they added. "The rider has been permanently removed from the Lyft community." Following the discovery of the victim and their vehicle, deputies were joined by BCSO Criminal Investigations, as the Crime Scene unit processed the scene and discovered blood and bullet holes in the car. Wildwood Road remained closed overnight during processing but has since reopened. A witness alleged that the suspect was "firing as he fled" the scene, and that he had scaled a fence before entering the neighborhood of Woodlawn, according to the BCSO news release. Gomez has since been charged with an Open Count of Murder and taken to the Bay County Jail. The BCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information on Sunday, May 25. One Facebook user, who commented under the BCSO's arrest announcement, alleged that they were familiar with the driver of the vehicle. "I knew the victim and yes this is devastating," they wrote. The social media commenter added, "He was a good man and loved by his family and friends. Til we see you again in heaven. RIP Prayers for His family.😢💔🙏🏻." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Another Facebook user, who claimed to be a Lyft driver in the area, wrote that they too had completed "pick-ups and drop-offs in that neighborhood" and have "felt safe with" each of their riders. "Unfortunately, underage riders are common and rides are often requested via accounts of people they know," they wrote. "Lyft tells us that we can terminate a ride if a rider is under age and alone, but where does that leave that kid... The driver was likely just trying to make money because of the holiday weekend." The shooting comes over a month after a 15-year-old in North Carolina was arrested and charged with fatally shooting a Lyft driver in October 2024, ABC News reported. Another 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged in Washington, D.C., in connection with the death of a Lyft driver a year before. The teen was sentenced to three years in prison, per WUSA 9. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teen charged with murder for shooting a Lyft driver in Panama City Beach
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Bay County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call on Saturday at 2:24 a.m. of a reported shooting on Wildwood Road and Emerald Cove Street. The Bay County Sheriff's Office said they responded to find a victim on the road suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was quickly taken to a local hospital, where they succumbed to the gunshot wound, officials confirmed. The victim's car was located about 100 yards north of the victim, on the road. BCSO Criminal Investigations joined Patrol deputies in the investigation, and the Crime Scene Unit processed the vehicle and the scene. Inside the vehicle, investigators said blood and bullet holes were found. PCPD involved in crash; no injuries reported According to a news release, a witness stated they observed a man flee the scene and scale a fence, firing as he fled. The suspect ran into the Woodlawn neighborhood, officials wrote. Deputies and investigators began an intense search of the area. The suspect was quickly identified as 17-year-old Brayden Raul Gomez of Bay County. He was located on Dorothy Avenue and taken into custody. After speaking with Gomez, investigators said they believe the victim was working as a Lyft driver and was driving Gomez to a requested destination when the incident occurred. Wildwood Road was closed for several hours for processing overnight, but is now open. Gomez has been charged with an Open Count of Murder and taken to the Bay County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Temporary road closure near HWY 22/E 3rd St. due to traffic crash
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Bay County Sheriff's Office has confirmed a traffic crash that has led to a temporary road closure. The area of Highway 22 and East 3rd Street will be blocked from Orinda Street to Bob Little Road. It's unclear what time the accident occurred, but several first responders were on the scene at around 7:50 p.m. It's also unknown how long the road will remain closed. For updates, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Protect your personal information this National Data Privacy Week
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — If you use the internet, and who doesn't, then you've probably received calls, texts, or emails from bad actors trying to scam you. If you're not careful, you can easily become their next victim. 'Scammers will go to great lengths to make it appear that they are from a legitimate company, be it a bank or some other financial service company,' Bay County Sheriff's Lt. Jeremy Mathis said. WATCH: Bay County Sheriff's office holds news conference This week is National Data Privacy Week. With that in mind, Bay County Sheriff's officials are sharing tips to keep you and your banking information safe. 'If you receive a correspondence from your bank or your financial institution and your credit union and it says that your account has been hacked and call this number, call the local number that you talk to. Go into your local branch of your bank and say, hey, I got this. Let them see it. If they say that's a scam, it's a scam. Don't don't do anything else,' Mathis said. You should also pay attention to the way the scammer communicates with you. If the email address looks generic or doesn't have specific information related to your bank, you should be suspicious. 'Pay attention to the email. You will see that it's a or a or Outlook or some other email address that shouldn't be from the company they're purporting themselves to be from,' Mathis said. Panama City officials sell unused property to fund St. Andrews parking project If you're not sure, don't click on it. You could open a link to a phishing scam. Officials said banking fraud is one of the fastest-growing scams in the country, so you have to act carefully about sharing sensitive banking information and cautiously monitor your accounts. 'You have to be vigilant with your information and vigilant with your credit and keep an eye on it,' Mathis said. If you think you're being scammed or suspect any suspicious banking activity, call your bank or the Bay County Sheriff's Office. They'll be able to confirm whether or not you're being deceived. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
