Robert Shawn Fowler, aged 48, tragically passed away on January 26, 2021, in Panama City Beach, Florida. Born on January 6, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia, Fowler was a beloved family man known for his dedication to his loved ones and his community. He was a graduate of Coosa High School, where he excelled in football, and later became a successful manager at Office Depot and Love's Travel Stops. At the time of his death, he and his family owned and operated the Bargain Depot in Calhoun.
Fowler was also an avid scuba diver and instructor, sharing his passion with many friends and family members.
The circumstances surrounding Fowler's death were both shocking and tragic. On the night of January 26, 2021, Fowler and his friend, Robert Keith Gilmore, were renovating a home on Delmar Drive in Panama City Beach when they encountered an intruder. The intruder, identified as 19-year-old Ruez Hicks, had entered the home with the intent to burglarize it. When confronted by Fowler and Gilmore, Hicks shot and killed both men. Fowler was found dead inside the home, while Gilmore was discovered unresponsive on the porch with a gunshot wound and his wallet missing.
The investigation into the double homicide was swift and thorough. Bay County Sheriff's Office investigators, along with forensic experts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, gathered crucial evidence that led to Hicks' arrest. Key pieces of evidence included DNA findings, the discovery of Gilmore's wallet contents, and the firearm used in the killings. Hicks eventually confessed to the murders during an interview with investigators, admitting that he had entered the home looking for items to steal and shot the victims when they confronted him.
Hicks was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, armed robbery, and armed burglary. In January 2022, a Bay County jury found him guilty on all charges. The trial revealed the senseless nature of the crime, with the prosecution emphasizing the devastating impact on the victims' families and the community. Hicks faced a potential life sentence for each of the murder charges, bringing some measure of justice and closure to those affected by this tragic event.
