Florida men wielding hatchet and machete clash in Publix parking lot, police say

Two Florida men person been charged with aggravated artillery aft allegedly taking up arms—one with a machete and 1 with a hatchet—in a Publix parking lot.

The Aug. 4 "physical altercation" betwixt Everette Krichbaum, 52, and James Gay, 35, was implicit a emotion interest, according to a constabulary report.

Detectives reported Gay was the "primary aggressor" successful the incidental successful Panama City.

Everette Krichbaum and James Gay person been charged with aggravated battery. (Bay County Sheriff's Office)

VIDEO SHOWS MOMENTS BEFORE ARMY VETERAN WAS FATALLY SHOT IN WALMART PARKING LOT DISPUTE

Krichbaum was sitting successful his car successful the Publix parking batch erstwhile Gay archetypal approached him and started a "verbal altercation," according to the apprehension affidavit.

Gay past allegedly returned to his conveyance and came backmost with a machete successful its sheath. He deed Krichbaum successful the look with it, the papers shows.

A feud betwixt the 2 men had been brewing implicit a pistillate that Krichbaum is dating and Gay utilized to date, Stephanie Marshall told Fox News Digital. Marshall, who identified herself to Fox News Digital arsenic Gay’s girlfriend, is listed arsenic a witnesser connected a study by the Panama City Police Department.

‘VIBRANT’ FLORIDA GRANDMA ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OUTSIDE PUBLIX, FAMILY FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE

James Gay and Stephanie Marshall person been dating since June, Marshall told Fox News Digital connected Aug. 5, 2026. (Courtesy of Stephanie Marshall)

As the 2 men squared up, Krichbaum started swinging a hatchet, Gay told police.

MYRTLE BEACH MAN WITH LENGTHY ARREST RECORD CHARGED WITH STABBING TWO PEOPLE IN POPULAR BEACH DESTINATION

When officers arrived, they recovered Gay with a heavy chopped connected his pinky finger, exposing the bone, and a puncture successful his little abdomen, according to apprehension records.

Krichbaum had aggregate lacerations to his hands and face, the constabulary study shows. He told investigators helium became unconscious erstwhile Gay deed him successful the caput with a machete.

Shoppers usage the crosswalk successful beforehand of a Publix supermarket successful Alachua, Fla., connected July 20, 2026. (Natasha Holt for Fox News Digital)

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Both Gay and Krichbaum were taken by ambulance to a infirmary for treatment. The constabulary study shows that Gay told constabulary helium was "attacked … implicit his ex-girlfriend."

The Washington County Sheriff's Office assisted the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force with arresting Everette Krichbaum connected Aug. 5. (Washington County Sheriff's Office)

SEND US A TIP

That aforesaid day, Gay was arrested and charged with aggravated artillery with a deadly weapon.

GOT A TIP?

It wasn’t his archetypal altercation that turned violent, records show. In 2011, helium was convicted of aggravated artillery successful the sidesplitting of a 16-year-old lad adjacent Panama City. In that incident, Gay utilized a concatenation wrapped astir his manus to fracture the skull of the teen, tribunal records show. Other co-defendants besides were charged successful the boy’s death.

In 2012, Gay was sentenced to 15 years successful prison. He was released aboriginal successful June 2024, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

On Aug. 5, aft Krichbaum was released from the hospital, helium was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Service. He’s been charged with aggravated artillery causing bodily harm oregon disability.

Everette Krichbaum, 52, has been charged with aggravated artillery aft allegedly swinging a limb successful a combat successful Panama City, Fla. connected Aug. 4, 2026. (Washington County Sheriff's Office)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

As of Aug. 7, some Gay and Krichbaum were being held successful the Bay County Jail. Fox News Digital could not scope either antheral for comment.

It was not instantly wide if Krichbaum has an attorney. Gay is listed arsenic representing himself.