POLICE SGT. KIGHT SHOT TO DEATH IN FLORIDA - Officer Has Calhoun Connections

(04/04/2005)

Christina Kight, center, the widow of slain Panama City Beach Police Sgt. Kevin Kight, walks past saluting police officers along with her son, Brandon, 4, and Panama City Beach Police Chief Robert Harding

Photos by Terry Barner www.newsherald.com

A Wisconsin man has been arrested and charged with the Easter Sunday shooting death of a police officer in Panama City, Florida.

Sgt. Kevin Kight, 34, (pictured left) has Calhoun County connections. He was shot twice shortly before 10:30 p.m. during a traffic stop along a busy street lined with beach front hotels and condominiums crowded with spring break visitors. Officer Kight died on the way to a hospital.

Kight's paternal grandparents are retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Freddie C. and Madeline Kight of Parker, Florida. They return annually to Calhoun High's alumni day. the elder Kights grew up on White Pine and graduated from CHS

After an overnight search for the gun, police arrested Robert Bailey, 22, of Milwaukee. He was found hiding in an abandoned house on the beach.

Police said Bailey's body is covered with gang-related tattoos and is said to have a criminal record.

"He's a gang-banger," police said. "It's written all over him, literally."

WJHG-TV reported that Bailey and two other men are believed to have hijacked at least one vehicle after the shooting. Bay County sheriff's deputies brought two men in for questioning, who are described as associates of the alleged gunman.

Kight was a six-year veteran of the Panama City Police Department. He leaves behind a wife and a 4-year-old son.

The procession for slain Panama City Police Sgt. Kevin Kight
makes its way over the Hathaway Bridge on Thursday

- News Herald Photo by Terry Barner

KEVIN SCOTT KIGHT

Police Sgt. Kevin Scott Kight, 34, of Panama City Beach, Fla., died Sunday night, March 27, 2005, in Panama City Beach in the line of duty. He moved to this area six and a half years ago from Springfield, Ohio. He was a sergeant at the Panama City Beach Police Department. He was a police officer since 1994, having also served with the German Township (Ohio) Police Department. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners of Panama City, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Beta Phi Omega Fraternity at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio, where he received a bachelor's degree in psychology.

He is survived by his wife, Christina L. Kight of Panama City Beach; his son, Brandon Theodore Kight of Panama City Beach; his father, Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Charles Kight Jr. of Callaway, Fla.; his mother, Marcia Johnston and Philip Bornor of St. Augustine, Fla.; his sister, Robin Leigh Kight of Atlanta, Ga.; his paternal grandparents, Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Freddie C. and Madeline Kight of Parker, Fla.; his maternal grandmother, Jessie Johnston of Callaway, Fla.; his paternal aunt and uncle, Wayne and Eileen Kight of Panama City; his maternal aunts and uncles, Martha and Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dennis DeLapp of Callaway, Fla., Mary and Bobby Branning of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and Ronald Johnston of Callaway, Fla.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob and Faye Kesner of Fairborn, Ohio; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lisa and Dan Weiss of Ashburn, Va.; one niece, Emma Weiss of Ashburn, Va.; and numerous cousins.

Funeral services were held March 31, 2005, at First Baptist Church of Panama City Beach with Dr. Jerry Weaver officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

A trust fund has been established for his family at SunTrust Bank, Account No. 62-203410 in honor of Sgt. Kevin Kight.