Shawnie Michal Easlick, a 25-year-old woman from Perry, Florida, tragically passed away on December 9, 2018. Shawnie was born on March 31, 1993, in Desoto, Florida, to Timothy Easlick and Mary Berg. She was remembered by her family and friends as a bubbly and loving individual who brought joy to those around her. Shawnie left behind her father, her children Halen and Matt, her fiancé Trey Stephens, and numerous other family members and friends.
The circumstances surrounding Shawnie Easlick's death were deeply distressing. On the early morning of December 9, 2018, Shawnie was involved in a violent altercation at a home on Majorie Drive in Perry, Florida. According to reports, Kayla Pittman, a 23-year-old woman, was accused of shooting Shawnie Easlick during the incident. The altercation began when several unknown individuals arrived at the home and allegedly attacked Pittman's husband, rendering him unconscious. In response, Pittman retrieved a handgun and fired a warning shot into the air. During the ensuing chaos, Shawnie Easlick confronted Pittman, leading to a physical struggle. As Pittman fell to the ground, she fired a shot that struck Shawnie Easlick in the head, resulting in her death.
Following the incident, Kayla Pittman surrendered to law enforcement on December 11, 2018, and was subsequently indicted by a grand jury for second-degree murder. Pittman's defense team argued that she acted in self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, claiming that she was reasonably afraid for her life and the life of her husband. They filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge, citing the legal provisions that allow the use of deadly force in situations where an individual feels threatened and has no duty to retreat.
The legal proceedings in this case were complex and contentious. A pretrial conference was scheduled for June 10, 2019, with a hearing on the motion to dismiss set for July 18, 2019. The outcome of these legal battles would determine whether Kayla Pittman would face trial for the second-degree murder of Shawnie Easlick or be granted immunity under the Stand Your Ground law. The case drew significant attention due to the tragic loss of a young mother and the legal debates surrounding self-defense claims in violent confrontations.
