Homicide charge dropped for Big B shooter

Published 3:53 pm Monday, February 16, 2015

The charge of second degree homicide against Michael Carrigan for a November nightclub shooting in Live Oak has been dropped by a Suwannee County grand jury, according to State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister. The grand jury filed for “no true bill” in Carrigan’s case, meaning there was insufficient evidence to find probable cause to charge with homicide. Siegmeister said Carrigan may still face a minor second degree misdemeanor because he carried a concealed weapon, for which he had a permit, but he carried it with him into a bar, an act that violates Florida statutes.

Carrigan, a man from Tampa with no previous criminal record, was charged with the death of Willie James Jackson III, 30, of Live Oak, after fatal shots were fired inside the Big B nightclub off Walker Avenue in Live Oak on Nov. 29, 2014. A second victim, Harry Edward Tillman, 34, was also shot and seriously injured but left in stable condition. Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams explained that Carrigan’s charge of second degree homicide rather than first degree indicates that there was no premeditated motive.

Over 25 witnesses were interviewed in connection to the shooting by an investigative team made up of the Live Oak Police Department, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.