Florida Men Charged After Violent Incident in Publix Parking Lot

Two men from Florida, Everette Krichbaum, 52, and James Gay, 35, face charges of aggravated battery following a confrontation involving weapons in a Publix parking lot in Panama City on August 4. The altercation was reportedly fueled by a dispute over a romantic interest.

Police identified James Gay as the main aggressor. The incident began when Gay approached Krichbaum, who was in his car, initiating a verbal argument. Gay left briefly, returning with a machete. According to the arrest affidavit, Gay struck Krichbaum in the face using the machete while it was still in its sheath.

The two men have a history of conflict over a woman linked to both. Stephanie Marshall, who identifies as Gay’s girlfriend, acknowledged a prior relationship between Gay and Krichbaum’s current partner. Watchful of the incident, police gathered eyewitness accounts, including Marshall’s, who was listed as a witness in the police report.

As tensions escalated, Krichbaum reportedly countered by wielding a hatchet in self-defense. The police found Gay with a serious cut on his pinky, exposing bone, and a wound on his abdomen. Krichbaum suffered lacerations on his hands and face, claiming he lost consciousness during the fight when Gay struck him in the head.

Both men required medical attention, transported by ambulance to a local hospital. After receiving treatment, Gay was apprehended on August 5. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from U.S. Marshals, later arrested Krichbaum upon his release from the hospital. Both face aggravated battery charges involving the use of a deadly weapon or causing significant harm.

This isn’t Gay’s first violent incident. In 2011, he was convicted of aggravated battery following the death of a 16-year-old. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released in June 2024, serving part of his sentence.

As of August 7, both men were detained in the Bay County Jail. Efforts to contact them were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear if they have legal representation. Gay is reportedly representing himself in court proceedings.