Owen Frazier, a 20-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on January 4, 2017, in Panama City, FL. The incident occurred during a drug robbery gone wrong. Frazier had just left his job at the Family Service Agency when he was picked up by a friend. They drove to 943 Magnolia Avenue to meet Marcus Jamal Larry, a 20-year-old African American male.
Upon arrival, they were approached by Larry and several others, including Claude Trey Cook, a 17-year-old African American male, and Datrion Tyrese Hand, a 16-year-old African American male. Cook pointed a. 40 caliber handgun through the passenger window and shot Frazier, who was then driven to Bay Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was over a baggie of marijuana. Frazier had expressed concerns to his supervisor at the Family Service Agency that he felt he was being stalked, but he did not elaborate further. His mother, Shelley Frazier, described him as a social butterfly who was deeply affected by the violence in his community, including the recent shooting death of his friend, Alton Mills. Frazier had just resumed his studies at Gulf Coast State College the day before the fatal incident.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Claude Trey Cook was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder. He also received concurrent sentences of 15 years each for attempted robbery with a firearm and conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm, and 10 years for principal to aggravated battery. Datrion Tyrese Hand and Marcus Jamal Larry, who agreed to testify against Cook, received sentences of 10 and 12 years, respectively, for their roles in the crime.
The case highlighted the tragic consequences of youth involvement in drug-related activities and the impact of community violence on young lives. Shelley Frazier emphasized that her son's life should not be defined by the circumstances of his death, as he had much more to offer and was a hero to those who knew him.
