Sergeant Floyd Milton Moore Jr., a 37-year-old white male, was tragically killed on January 28, 1986, in Panama City, Florida. Moore, who served with the Bay County Sheriff's Office and was a Vietnam War veteran, was off-duty at the time of his death. He lived at the Turtle Lake Apartments, where he also worked as a security officer. On the night of his death, Moore encountered a burglar at the apartment complex.
After obtaining the suspect's identification and placing it in his breast pocket, Moore used his portable radio to request a uniformed officer and instructed the suspect to follow him. As Moore turned around, the suspect produced a concealed handgun and opened fire, fatally wounding him.
The suspect, later identified as Walter Grant Kyser, a 30-year-old man, was apprehended the next day in Columbus, Georgia. The identification card Moore had taken from Kyser played a crucial role in his quick arrest. Kyser was convicted of the murder and initially sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The investigation into Moore's death revealed that Kyser had been using various false identities. During the preliminary interrogation, Kyser provided multiple accounts of the events leading to Moore's death. He initially claimed that the shooting was accidental, stating that he had intended to strike Moore with the gun but it went off accidentally. Kyser later implicated others in his testimonies, but ultimately, he was held responsible for the murder.
Moore's death had a profound impact on the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the community. His colleagues and the community mourned the loss of a dedicated officer who had served with distinction. The case highlighted the dangers law enforcement officers face, even when off-duty, and underscored the importance of thorough investigations and swift justice.
