Timothy Adam Kilgore, a 42-year-old male, was found fatally shot in a wooded area near Mulberry Avenue and 13th Street in Panama City, Florida, on the night of January 6, 2023. Officers from the Panama City Police Department responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m., where they discovered Kilgore suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by emergency responders, including the Panama City Fire Department and EMS services, Kilgore succumbed to his injuries
at the scene.
Authorities quickly identified 24-year-old Charles Caulk Jr. as the primary suspect in the shooting. Witnesses provided information that led police to believe Caulk Jr. fled the scene on foot following the incident. A large-scale search ensued, involving approximately 28 officers from the Panama City Police Department, along with assistance from the Bay County Sheriff's Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, and other agencies. The search utilized FLIR drones and a helicopter to track the suspect's movements.
Investigators later determined that Caulk Jr. was picked up by 35-year-old James Alexander Holland on Harrison Avenue and transported to a residence in Callaway. Within three hours of the shooting, law enforcement officers located Caulk Jr. at the Callaway residence and took him into custody. Upon his arrest, Caulk Jr. reportedly provided a full confession to the homicide, and police recovered the weapon used in the crime from the residence.
Caulk Jr. was charged with an open count of murder, while Holland faced charges of accessory after the fact in murder and providing false information to law enforcement. Authorities noted that both Kilgore and Caulk Jr. were considered transients, though no motive for the killing was immediately disclosed. During his first court appearance, Caulk Jr. was ordered to be held without bond. Holland was also taken into custody for his role in assisting the suspect after the crime.
The swift response and coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies played a crucial role in apprehending the suspect and ensuring justice for Kilgore. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting continued as authorities worked to piece together the events leading up to the fatal encounter.
