Panama City Beach Judge Hands Down Fifty Year Sentence to Teenager for Fatal June 2025 Waffle House Shooting

A 19-year-old received a 50-year sentence for the 2025 Waffle House shooting in Panama City Beach. JaZai Mitchell was convicted of manslaughter and robbery.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 4:48 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from WJHG

Significant Prison Term for Violent Parking Lot Encounter

The legal proceedings following a high-profile killing in Panama City Beach reached a definitive conclusion on Thursday as 19-year-old JaZai Mitchell received a 50-year prison sentence. According to court records, the decision follows a conviction last month regarding the June 3, 2025, shooting at a Waffle House on Front Beach Road. Judge Timothy Register delivered the heavy sentence after reviewing the details of a night that turned a robbery attempt into a fatal tragedy, ending the life of 19-year-old JaDion Hughes.

The Mechanics of a Deadly Back to Back Sentence

In a move that ensures the defendant will spend most of his adult life behind bars, the court structured the punishment into two distinct segments. Mitchell was sentenced to 20 years for Attempted Second-Degree Murder, which must be completed before a second 30-year term for Manslaughter with a Firearm begins. According to judicial officials, this consecutive arrangement means the clock does not run on both crimes simultaneously, significantly extending the total time Mitchell will remain in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections.

Florida Mandatory Sentencing and Limited Eligibility for Release

The impact of Florida’s 10-20-Life statute played a critical role in the finality of the court's decision on Thursday. According to Judge Register, Mitchell will be ineligible for any gain time or early release credits during the initial 20-year mandatory portion of his incarceration. While he also received five-year sentences for Grand Theft of a Firearm and Tampering with Evidence, these will be served concurrently with his longer terms, effectively subsumed by the primary 50-year mandate.