PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) — The woman accused of killing a Perry mother is asking that her murder charge be dismissed, citing that the deed was done in self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law.
Lawyers for Kayla Pittman, who's accused of killing 25-year-old Shawnie Easlick, filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge in March, claiming that Pittman had immunity from the second-degree murder indictment under the Stand Your Ground law.
According to Pittman's attorney Chuck Collins, Pittman and her husband were leaving a home on Majorie Drive during the early morning hours of December 9, 2018 when several unknown vehicles pulled up to park at the home.
The people inside got out of the cars and "aggressively made way" to Pittman and her husband. That's when attorneys claim Pittman's husband was attacked by three people and knocked unconscious.
The motion alleges that the unknown people dragged Pittman's husband into the street and continued to assault him.
"While Mr. Pittman was being beat by these unknown people, [Kayla Pittman] retrieved a handgun from the center console of Mr. Pittman's truck," Collins wrote in the motion. "[Kayla Pittman] fired a 'warning shot' into the air."
That's when lawyers assert Pittman was confronted by Easlick. They say another unknown person came up behind Pittman and pulled her by the hair while Easlick punched Pittman in the face.
After being hit, attorneys say Pittman began to fall to the ground and as she did, she shot Easlick in the head.
Pittman surrendered to law enforcement on December 11 and was indicted by the grand jury of Taylor County for second-degree murder.
However, Pittman's attorneys cited Florida Statue 776.012(2) and asserted that she had the right to use "deadly force" because she was reasonably afraid for her life and the life of her husband.
"A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force in accordance with this subsection does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has the right to be," Collins wrote.
Now, the state has not yet filed a response to the motion.
A pretrial conference is set for Monday, June 10. A hearing on the motion is set for Thursday, July 18.
PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - The suspect in the killing of a Perry mother has surrendered to law enforcement.
Kayla Pittman, 23, turned herself in at the Taylor County Jail moments before a wanted flyer was published.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Pittman on Tuesday afternoon for second degree murder.
Pittman was wanted for the shooting death of Shawnie Easlick that happened on Dec. 9 at a home on Majorie Drive within the city limits of Perry.
PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - Police confirmed they are investigating after a mother was shot and killed in Perry over the weekend.
The victim, Shawnie Easlick, 25, was found on the ground around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, as people tried to give her medical assistance after the shooting, said Perry Police Captain Gene Franklin.
They say Easlick suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body.
Easlick was transported to Doctors Memorial Hospital in Perry where she later died from her injuries. He said the circumstances of her shooting were under a homicide investigation.
The people involved are all believed to be acquaintances, so there is no perceived danger to the public.
Cpt. Franklin said he could not provide any more details. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Anyone with information concerning the death of Shawnie Easlick is encouraged to contact the Perry Police Department at 850-584-5121. To remain anonymous, you can contact Big Bend Crime Stoppers at 850-574-TIPS (8477). You can also text "BBCS" plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES).
She worked at the Huddle House, a Perry restaurant, according to a WTXL viewer.
