On the night of June 3, 2025, Ja'Dion Love Hughes, 19, a Black/African American male from the Panama City area, was shot in the parking lot of the Waffle House at 10327 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach. Officers working nearby heard a single gunshot around 10:12 p.m., rushed to the scene, and found Ja'Dion Love Hughes suffering from a gunshot wound. Lifesaving measures were started and he was transported to Ascension Sacred Heart, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that moments before the shot, a dispute in the parking lot escalated from words to a brief fight, and the confrontation centered on the attempted sale of an illegal firearm. During that struggle, police say 18-year-old Ja'Zai Mitchell fired the shot that struck Ja'Dion Love Hughes.
In the frantic minutes after the gunfire, officers say 18-year-old Kiydre McCullough tried to hide one firearm in nearby bushes, then fled with Ja'Zai Mitchell in a red Chevrolet Camaro. As they drove away, Mitchell allegedly tossed another gun from the vehicle. Officers quickly located and stopped the Camaro and took both into custody; a third suspect, a 16-year-old, was also detained.
Police announced a slate of arrests and charges: Ja'Zai Mitchell was charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, tampering with evidence, and grand theft of a firearm; Kiydre McCullough was charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, accessory after the fact to attempted murder, and tampering with evidence; the 16-year-old was charged with violation of probation and processed through juvenile authorities. Authorities described the investigation as active and asked anyone with information to come forward.
Public records and national databases later recorded the death of Ja'Dion Love Hughes, 19, in Panama City Beach on June 3, 2025, reflecting the timeline and location of the shooting. Those records also identify the victim as male and Black/African American.
