Hundreds mourn musician killed by stray bullet

PANAMA CITY — Several hundred people showed their support Saturday for the family of a local musician who was shot and killed last week during a homecoming celebration for his newborn son.

The sanctuary of Northside Baptist Church on Airport Road can hold about 280 people. Many more than that attended the funeral for 33-year-old Stephen Justin Ayers. A telecast was aired in the church’s fellowship hall next door, which also was filled to capacity.

Ayers was a musician and instructor at A Beat Better Music downtown, and Saturday’s service had a musical theme.

Fellow musicians opened the service with a rendition of “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones, and musical interludes filled the lulls between speakers.

“This week this family has grieved. In fact, the entire community has grieved,” the Rev. Luther Stanford said. “In our hurt, this community has come together and it is a testimony to the bright soul Justin was.”

Ayers was killed instantly Tuesday night when a stray bullet entered his home at 2502 Michigan Court and struck him in the back of the head.

His family had gathered there to celebrate the homecoming of his 3-day-old baby, who was born on Father’s Day.

A donation website titled “Go Without To Help Out: the Ayers Family” has been set up at gofundme.com/agla8k to help Ayers’ wife Jessica and newborn son Jaxton. More than 450 people had donated more than $20,000 as of Saturday, two days after the website was created.

Ayers’ neighbor, Charles Edward Shisler, 62, of 3708 W. 25th St., has been charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Shisler told Bay County sheriff’s investigators that a 9mm pistol accidentally discharged when he picked it up inside his house. The bullet went through his window and dense woods before it shattered the rear sliding glass of the Ayers’ home 200 feet away and hit Ayers in the back of the head, according to reports.

A blood sample taken about four hours later revealed Shisler’s blood-alcohol content was 0.079, according to reports.

Shisler has been in the county jail since the shooting. Where he acquired pistol is still under investigation.