Dive Teams Locate Weapon Used In Shooting Of Seven-Year-Old

BAY COUNTY, FL – August 21st, 2025 – Bay County Sheriff, Tommy Ford, announced that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Crime Scene Unit worked a joint operation today with divers from the FWC, FSU-Panama City Dive Team, and Panama City Fire dive teams to locate the weapon used in a shooting of a 7-year-old on August 9, 2025.

The BCSO Criminal Investigations Division developed information that indicated the firearm had been disposed of in Martin Lake. The combined effort by the agencies involved was successful and a Panama City Fire diver located the handgun in Martin Lake today.

The investigation is ongoing.