Incident
Sergeant Kevin Kight was shot and killed while making a traffic stop at approximately 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of Beckrich and Front Beach Roads in Panama City.
Sergeant Kight stopped the subject's car, and when he checked his driver's license, he discovered the license was invalid. As Sergeant Kight attempted to make an arrest, the suspect pulled out a handgun and opened fire, killing him.
The killer, who had violated his parole from Wisconsin, fled the scene but was apprehended nine hours later. The man was convicted of first-degree murder and resisting an officer with violence. He was sentenced to death on April 11, 2007. Due to changes in the death penalty laws, the suspect's sentencing phase was retried, and a jury recommended the death sentence again in 2024.
Sergeant Kight had served with the Panama City Beach Police Department for 6 years and had previously served with the German Township, Ohio, Police Department for 4 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 4-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-B416713F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Kight gave the Panama City Beach Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Panama City Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Kight.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Kevin Scott Kight is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kevin Scott Kight's cause is highlighted.
How Kevin Scott Kight Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kevin Scott Kight is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kevin Scott Kight was killed by gun; unknown type.