In the quiet coastal stretch of Panama City, Florida, a mother’s desperate drive to protect her children turned into a nightmare on the night of August 9, 2025. A 7-year-old boy, now recovering from a gunshot wound, became the innocent victim of a violent domestic dispute that spiraled into a high-speed chase and a hail of bullets. The incident, fueled by jealousy and rage, has left a community reeling and reignited urgent calls for action against domestic violence and gun violence.
It began at WS Crab House, a local seafood restaurant, where 32-year-old Sammie Lee Underwood III confronted his ex-girlfriend and her two young children. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Underwood’s anger erupted when he falsely believed another man was in her vehicle. His fury transformed into a deadly pursuit as the mother, fearing for her life and her children’s safety, fled the restaurant with her kids in tow.
What followed was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Underwood, in his SUV, chased the family through the streets of Panama City, his rage unchecked. Witnesses reported seeing him swerve dangerously, attempting to force the mother’s car off the road. Then, in a chilling escalation, he opened fire. Multiple rounds pierced the night air, one striking the 7-year-old boy in the back seat, the bullet lodging in his back. The mother, hearing her son’s screams, made a desperate U-turn near 15th Street and Sherman Avenue, racing to get him to a hospital. Her quick thinking saved his life; the boy, though seriously injured, is now on the path to recovery.
Underwood fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle in nearby Callaway and going into hiding. But the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, alongside their Criminal Investigations Division, SWAT team, and the U.S. Marshals Service, worked relentlessly to track him down. On August 11, 2025, they spotted Underwood leaving an apartment and executed a vehicle takedown, apprehending him without incident. A search revealed a grim inventory: fentanyl, hydrocodone, OxyContin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and a stolen firearm in his possession.
The investigation uncovered another layer of complicity. Ricki Brown, a 31-year-old Panama City resident, was arrested for aiding Underwood’s escape. Authorities say she drove him from the scene, allowed him to hide at her residence, and helped dispose of the firearm used in the shooting. Brown now faces charges of accessory after the fact to a second-degree felony, violation of probation, and possession of fentanyl and marijuana.
Underwood’s list of charges is staggering: four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle into an occupied conveyance, tampering with evidence, grand theft of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, multiple drug possession charges, and hit-and-run for leaving the scene of the crash. His prior criminal history, including a 2015 conviction for possessing a loaded .380 caliber pistol as a convicted felon, paints a picture of a man no stranger to violence and lawlessness.
The community response has been one of outrage and solidarity. Social media posts have flooded platforms like X, with users demanding justice for the young victim and his family while praising the mother’s courage under unimaginable pressure. “This is domestic violence at its most extreme,” a Bay County Sheriff’s Office official declared. “It’s jealousy turned to attempted murder. It’s a child caught in the crossfire of someone else’s anger.” Advocacy groups have seized on the tragedy to highlight the deadly intersection of domestic violence, gun access, and child endangerment, urging stronger protections and interventions to prevent such horrors.
As the 7-year-old boy heals, his survival is a testament to his mother’s bravery and the swift response of medical professionals. Yet, the scars of this night—both physical and emotional—will linger for the family and the Panama City community. The case remains under investigation, with authorities determined to ensure justice is served and the safety of the victims is secured. This harrowing incident stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us.
