‘Panama City Beach can no longer be a spring break town,’ police chief says after multiple shootings

After weeks of dealing with the chaos of spring break in Panama City Beach – which included at least two incidents of gunfire – the city’s police chief on Sunday said something has to change.

“Panama City Beach can no longer be a spring break town,‘’ Chief J.R. Talamantez said in an open letter posted on Facebook. “That time is over.”

“Every year we try to manage it, and every year it brings more challenges,” he wrote. “I’m not willing to risk the safety of our city to hold onto something that no longer works.”

Talamantez started by thanking those who he said did things the right way.

“To the future doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and leaders who came here for a break, you’re appreciated,” he said. “You made memories, enjoyed the beach, and showed respect. Most of you went home without problems, and that’s exactly how it should be.”

But others, he said, went to bring trouble.

“If you came with guns, bad intentions, and no respect for this city, we saw you,” he said. “You thought you could blend in and get away with it. You were wrong. Our officers were ready, and many of you ended up in handcuffs.”

“Some of you fired shots over petty arguments and social media drama. And when the cuffs went on, the tough act disappeared,” Talamantez said. “Our officers didn’t see hardened criminals. They saw scared kids crying in the interview room. TikTok doesn’t show that part, but our body cameras do.”

Shots rang out in PCB’s popular Pier Park March 29, injuring three young victims from Alabama. Their identities have not been released, but authorities said they all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and all have been released from the hospital.

Three Dothan teens have been charged in connection with that incident. Talamantez said the shooting was the result of rival gangs in Dothan.

“I’m not going to mention the gangs’ names because they don’t even deserve to have their stupid names mentioned in this forum,” Talamantez previously said.

Those charged in the Pier Park shooting are Kevin Tyrone Moore, 18, Jamarion Lamont “Lil Poop” Baker, 15, and Avaughn Brown, 17.

“We believe Mr. Moore fired an AR-15-style rifle in a crowd, almost killing the individuals we identified as victims,‘’ Talamantez said.

Then, on Thursday, April 3, gunfire erupted outside Hammerhead Fred’s on Thomas Drive.

Talamantez said there was an event taking place there when a rumor surfaced that someone had a gun inside the business.

“This resulted in a bunch of scared children fleeing from the location,” the chief said.

There is no evidence right now showing there was a gun inside the business, but it did result in a mass exodus.”

As everybody was fleeing, the chief said, 18-year-old Isaiah McKenzie “decided to add to the environment by taking his weapon, placing it outside the car, and firing four shots in the air.”

McKenzie, also of Dothan, was quickly taken into custody.

“He did this within feet of some police officers,” Talamantez said. “The only explanation he provided was, ‘I don’t know why I did it. Maybe I wanted to scare the crowd.’ That’s the mentality we’ve been dealing with these past couple of weeks.”

Other Florida spring break destinations have cracked down after problems came with spring break tourists in recent years.

Miami Beach ‘broke up’ with spring break in 2024.

Officials there this year announced they were bringing back enhanced security measures for practically the entire month of March, including parking restrictions and increased fees for nonresidents, The Associated Press reported.

The new rules were introduced after three consecutive years of spring break violence. The city now warns visitors to expect curfews, bag searches at the beach, early beach closures, DUI checkpoints and arrests for drug possession and violence.

The Panama City Beach police chief said Sunday that in the coming weeks, police will be having serious discussions with stakeholders and city leadership about the future of the spring break season.

“I’m confident they share this same concern,” Talamantez said. “No plan will fix this overnight, but we have to start somewhere. And we have to start now.”

Law enforcement officers, he said, should not be expected to shoulder the burden of an event that no longer aligns with the values or vision of the community.

“It’s unfair to continue placing that weight on the backs of the men and women who serve and protect this city every day,” Talamantez said.

“Panama City Beach is a safe, family-focused community,” he said. “We’ve worked too hard to build that, and I won’t let a group of criminals destroy it.”

“To the good visitors, you’ll always be welcome. To the idiots, go somewhere else.”