Robert Panayotis, a 45-year-old man, was remembered for his big heart and his love for his family. Known as "Rob" to his friends, he was a cherished member of his community and is deeply missed by those who knew him. His life was cut short in a sudden act of violence that left his loved ones grappling with a profound loss.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Panayotis was with three other people at an apartment at 2050 South Ridgewood Avenue in South Daytona, Florida. The group had gathered there after spending time at Cozy Corner, a bar in Port Orange, and later Mark’s Sports Bar in South Daytona. Inside one of the apartment's bedrooms, what began as a social get-together took a fatal turn.
An argument reportedly erupted after Panayotis made a comment to a man named Justin Bryan about motorcycle clubs, saying, “this is why you don’t switch clubs.”
Witnesses told police that Bryan became angry and told Panayotis and one of the women present to leave. Bryan then allegedly went to a closet, retrieved a shotgun, and pointed it at Panayotis. One of the women reportedly intervened, pushing the barrel of the gun away and telling Bryan to shoot her instead if he was going to shoot someone.
Ignoring her plea, Bryan allegedly fired a single round into the floor. As Panayotis was gathering his belongings to comply with the demand to leave, Bryan allegedly fired the shotgun a second time. This time, the blast struck Robert Panayotis in the face. Witnesses later affirmed to investigators that Panayotis was not armed and that no physical fight had occurred before the shooting.
The South Daytona Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting the shooting. When officers arrived, they found Panayotis on the floor near a bed with a severe gunshot wound to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators located one spent shotgun shell just outside the bedroom and another one inside the room, corroborating the witness accounts of two shots being fired.
Justin Bryan was found in front of the apartment complex and was taken into custody by police without incident. Following interviews with the two witnesses who were present during the shooting, Bryan was arrested and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail and ordered to be held without bond.
While court documents mentioned that Panayotis had past associations with the Pagans and possibly the Outlaws motorcycle clubs, investigators did not immediately establish that the shooting was the result of an active club-related dispute. The argument appeared to stem from the verbal comment Panayotis made just moments before his death. The case against Justin Bryan is proceeding through the Florida court system. As of late 2026, the prosecution was ongoing.
