Quick Arrest For Homicide of Lyft Driver In Panama City Beach - Support For Driver’s Family

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL - The BCSO responded to a 911 call May 24th at 2:24 AM.. The caller reported a shooting on Wildwood Road and Emerald Cove Street. 

Deputies responded to find a victim in the road suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was quickly taken to a local hospital where they succumbed to the gunshot wound. The victim's car was located about 100 yards north of the victim, also in the road. 

BCSO Criminal Investigations joined Patrol deputies in the investigation and the Crime Scene unit processed the vehicle and scene. 

Inside the vehicle blood and bullet holes were found. Wildwood Rd. was closed for several hours for processing overnight but is now open. 

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. Deputies and investigators began an intense search of the area. 

The suspect was quickly identified as 17 year old Brayden Raul Gomez, a resident of Bay County. Gomez was located on Dorothy Avenue and taken into custody. 

After speaking with Gomez, Investigators believe the victim was working as a Lyft driver and was driving Gomez to a requested destination when the incident occurred. 

Gomez has been charged on an Open Count of Murder and has been taken to the Bay County Jail. 

According to the arrest report, "The defendant while being transported to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, confessed to shooting the victim from the backseat of the vehicle after the victim said something in conversation that enraged him."

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Updates:  
Obituary for the driver, William Bill McArthur. 
https://www.southerlandfamily.com/obituaries/William-Bill-Mcarthur?obId=42679640
Go Fund Me for his family.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/light-in-the-darkness-supporting-lynn-mcarthur-after-tragedy