Panama City man given 2 life sentences for fatal shooting in a bar in 2021

Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald
·2 min read

PANAMA CITY − A local man who opened fired in a bar and killed a bystander has been given two life sentences.

According to a news release from the State Attorney's Office of the 14th Judicial Circuit, 38-year-old Deerik Bell of Panama City was ordered on Wednesday to serve two life sentences for the September 2021 shooting death of Tracy Eckman at the Outrigger Lounge.

Bell open fired on a person in the bar who punched him, striking and killing Eckman instead.

"With today's two life sentences, the family of Mr. Eckman finally has closure from the senseless killing," prosecutor Peter Overstreet said in the release. "It is a reminder that our law enforcement partners and the State Attorney's Office will continue to seek justice for our victims and hold those who break our laws fully accountable."

Circuit Court Judge Shonna Gay gave Bell life sentences for both manslaughter while armed and attempted second degree murder with discharge of a firearm. She also ordered for the two sentences to run consecutively.

About six months before the shooting that killed Eckman, Bell was released from a separate five-year prison sentence. He has 16 prior felony charges.

The release states that Eckman was with friends, "minding his own business," when Bell open fired in the bar. Bell, whom the release described as "a convicted felon who shouldn't have had a gun in the first place," "immediately pulled his gun" and started firing after being punched by another patron.

More from the State Attorney's Office: Justin Drinkard, 38, of Southport found guilty of beating local man to death with bat

Apart from the bullet that killed Eckman, another bullet fired by Bell lodged into the back of a chair being used by another patron.

"It was crowded, (but) it is only by the grace of God nobody else was struck by gunfire by Mr. Bell," Overstreet said in the release.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Deerik Bell of Panama City given 2 life sentences in 2021 bar killing