Panhandle Murder A Hate Crime?

Detectives are investigating a murder at a Saturday bonfire party in Jay, Florida, some say could be a hate crime. 18-year old Getryon Benjamin was shot and killed at the party. Benjamin and three of his friends drove down from Brewton to hang out at the bonfire party when investigators say an argument broke out, guns were pulled and shots were fired. The host of the party, Robert Floyd, has been charged with Benjamin's murder.

Some people living in the area believe the murder was racially motivated. Benjamin was black, Floyd is white. But not everyone believes the deadly shooting was a hate crime.

"It's definitely not a racial issue or a hate crime," says Jay resident Pam Green. Green says her daughter was at the party and says the kids from Brewton were intimidating and threatening others. "The people there were scared to death and felt in fear of their lives and felt they were protecting their lives. It wouldn't matter if he was purple or polka-dotted."

We tried to talk to Benjamin's family and friends in Brewton about the murder and whether or not they believed the shooting was racially motivated, but nobody would comment.

Floyd is being held in jail without bond.