By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
Two men were arrested following an investigation into a report of shots being fired at the Econo Lodge motel in Palm Coast on December 17.
At approximately 10:45 a.m., the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call that two gunshots had been heard outside the motel on Kingswood Drive. According to the caller and multiple other callers, a group of males were arguing when two shots were fired. Two black males then reportedly fled the area.
After determining that nobody had been injured in the incident, responding deputies quickly located and detained two suspects at nearby businesses who matched the description provided by witnesses. Both individuals were initially non-compliant but were secured without incident.
One of the suspects, who was not charged in the incident, identified himself and the other male as James Everett, 19, of Orlando, Florida. He stated that a male who was on the second floor of the motel had pointed a firearm at himself and Everett, causing him to fear for his life. He stated that Everett fired two shots at the male, who he could only identify as someone wearing a ski mask, and the two fled the scene separately.
Surveillance footage reviewed at the scene showed the argument. During the argument, the male on the second-floor balcony briefly entered a room and returned to the balcony with his hand concealed in his hoodie pocket and appeared to clutch an object. After Everett drew a firearm and fired in the male’s direction, the male retreated into the room and was seen on video with a firearm in his hand.
Detectives interviewed the male, who was identified as Steven Hyatt, 22, of Palm Coast. When shown the surveillance footage, Hyatt confirmed he was the individual in the video and that he was holding a firearm. While speaking with detectives, Hyatt was evasive and claimed he could not remember why he retrieved the firearm.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the hotel room and located the firearm and ammunition under an inflatable mattress.
Detectives determined that Hyatt unlawfully used a firearm in a manner that constituted an act of violence against Everett and the other male, causing fear for their safety. Everett then unlawfully fired his weapon into the building, which could have resulted in death or great bodily harm. Both Hyatt and Everett were arrested.
“Our patrol deputies and detectives did a great job quickly controlling the scene and detaining suspects before someone was hurt,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This investigation is continuing to determine why individuals from Orlando were in Palm Coast and what the actual intent of the confrontation at the Econo Lodge was about. This could have been a deadly event with innocent bystanders getting hurt or killed. We thank all the callers who saw something, heard something, and said something.”
Hyatt was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He was later released after posting a $5,000 bond.
(L) Steven Hyatt (Flagler County Jail Mugshot), (R) Hyatt’s firearm recovered at the scene.
Everett was arrested for Shooting a Deadly Missile into a Building, Tampering with Evidence, and Resisting an Officer without Violence. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was held on a $10,000 bond.
(L) James Everett (Flagler County Jail Mugshot), (R) Everett’s firearm recovered at the scene.
