Case Continued For Homicide Suspect That Claimed Self Defense In McDavid Main Street Drug Deal
May 12, 2026
During a court appearance on Monday, a court case was continued for the suspect in a February 2025 fatal shooting on Main Street in McDavid. The suspect claims he shot the victim out of fear, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says it was murder.
Investigators charged Antonio Marshone DeSoto, now 26, with homicide for the shooting on Main Street, just east of Highway 29. During a hearing on Monday, Judge John Simon continued the case until July 22 at the request of the State Attorney’s Office.
DeSoto has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
The victim, identified as Charles Black, was found lying in Main Street directly in front of the McDavid Post Office about 8:40 p.m. on February 18, who was suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was just a few feet away from the driver’s door of his Chevrolet SUV, which remained in the roadway.
The arrest report make no mention of any weapon being recovered from Black or his vehicle.
After he was shot, Black was able to call 911 and tell dispatchers that DeSoto was the perpetrator, according to an arrest report. He was no longer able to speak to deputies after they arrived on scene. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to the nearby McDavid Fire Station before being airlifted by Medstar AirCare helicopter to a Pensacola hospital where he later died.
Deputies received a tip that DeSoto had fled following the shooting to a residence in the 100 block of Highway 164, just west of Highway 29 and Driver Road, about a half mile from the shooting scene. Deputies searched the home and found nothing. ECSO said the homeowner said she was allowing DeSoto to stay in a camper inside the house, but she had not seen him since earlier that afternoon. She told deputies that she had been advised by her daughter that she heard gunshots from down the road, but she did not see DeSoto after that.
DeSoto was taken into custody outside the home, and a 9mm Taurus G2C handgun was recovered under the camper.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Once An Aggie, Always An Aggie: Keyla Richardson Was A 2015 Tate Graduate
May 12, 2026
Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie!
American Idol Top 3 finalist Keyla Richardson is a 2015 Tate High School graduate.
Keyla Deanna Richardson graduated from Tate High on Tuesday night, June 2, 2015, at the Pensacola Bay Center. She received generous applause as her name was called and she was handed her diploma by then Principal Rick Shackle. There was a big smile across her face as she moved across the stage and shook hands with then Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
During her whirlwind hometown visit and concert last week in Pensacola, she was celebrated by the community.
The Tate High School Showband of the South played a big role in last Wednesday’s Keyla Fest, performing a custom arrangement for her at Life Shifting Learning Academy on Highway 29 in Ensley, and marching in the downtown parade.
She also made a surprise appearance at Education Day at Blue Wahoos Stadium, pausing for a photo with members of the Tate High School Yearbook staff.
She also autographed her photo in a school copy of the 2015 Tate yearbook.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Image above courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambai.com
A Few Pop-up Showers This Evening; Sunny Skies Returning By Wednesday
May 12, 2026
Tuesday carries a lingering chance of showers and thunderstorms as clouds persist, the atmosphere stabilizes by Wednesday. Expect plenty of sunshine and a gradual warming trend through the weekend, with daytime highs climbing from the low 80s into the upper 80s by next Monday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Northview Chiefs, Jay Royals To Battle For Regional Title Tonight
May 12, 2026
The Northview Chiefs will host the Jay Royals at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the Region 1 Rural championship.
The Chiefs (19-5) will be looking to continue their current eight-game winning streak, while the Royals (12-12) will be looking to upset the region’s top team.
Northview defeated Jay 7-0 for the district title.
Photos: Northview Blanks Jay for District championship.
Northview is coming off a 15-0 mercy rule shutout of Holmes County in just 2.5 innings, and Jay held on for a 3-2 win over Chipley in their regional semifinal.
Last season, Northview won the regional championship 4-1 over Jay. The Chiefs advanced to the state final, finishing as state runners-up to Trenton.
Tickets are available on GoFan; no cash at the gate.
Escambia Felon Indicted On Federal Gun, Drug Charges
May 12, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been indicted on federal drug and gun charges.
Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, was indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Trial is set for June 22.
If convicted, Likely-McWilliams faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
Pensacola Sports Honors Top Senior Athletes, Awards Scholarships (With Gallery)
May 12, 2026
Pensacola Sports recently recognized the top outstanding seniors who have excelled in their respective sports on and off the field in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and awarded scholarships.
For a photo gallery, click here.
A selection committee, made up of educators, community leaders and Pensacola Sports board members, carefully reviews each anonymous application, honoring those whose character, leadership and achievements truly stand out. From these sport-specific winners,
2026 Senior Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
- Overall Boys Senior Scholar-Athlete ($5,000 Scholarship): Colton Guillot, Catholic High School
- Overall Girls Senior Scholar-Athlete ($5,000 Scholarship): Abby Vernier, West Florida High School
- Multi Sport Girls ($500 Scholarship): Kaylie Mitchell, Tate High School
- Multi Sport Boys ($500 Scholarship: Bowen Iorg, Pace High School
- Baseball: Clayton Sanders, Pace High School
- Boys Basketball: Sergio Robinson, Milton High School
- Boys Cross Country: John McAuley, West Florida High School
- Football: Caden Jasso, Catholic High School
- Boys Golf: Ian Morris, Catholic High School
- Boys Lacrosse: John Lagergren, Catholic High School
- Boys Soccer: John Zeravsky, Catholic High School
- Boys Swimming: Linden Mason, Pace High School
- Boys Tennis: Guy Ormsby, Gulf Breeze High School
- Boys Track: Markiece Kramer, Pace High School
- Boys Weightlifting: Roan Strom, Navarre High School
- Wrestling: Garrett Ferguson, Gulf Breeze High School
- Cheerleading: Brea Lyle, Jay High School
- Girls Basketball: Chamiah Francis, Central High School
- Girls Cross Country: Charlotte NeSmith, West Florida High School
- Girls Flag Football: Haley Dasinger, Pace High School
- Girls Golf: Lillian Day, Catholic High School
- Girls Lacrosse: Ella Adams, Catholic High School
- Girls Soccer: Lily Rodriguez, Catholic High School
- Softball: Mylee Frazier, Jay High School
- Girls Swimming: Taylor Clements, West Florida High School
- Girls Tennis: Maya Chavan, Catholic High School
- Girls Track: Trinity Jordan, Escambia High School
- Volleyball: Sydney Sutter, Gulf Breeze High School
- Girls Weightlifting: Abigail Butler, Navarre High School
- Multi Sport Girls: Kaylie Mitchell, Tate High School
- Multi Sport Boys: Bowen Iorg, Pace High School
Pensacola State College warded 25 individual sports winners with a one-year $900 renewable scholarships
Special Scholarships
Dr. Alec Kessler Memorial Foundation Scholarships ($1,000)
- Ruby Seacrest, Washington
- Lawson Killingsworth, Washington
- Darnell Thomas, Catholic
- Avril Clarke, Gulf Breeze
- Breanna Shaw, Navarre
UWF Scholarship ($1,500)
- Brody Bruce, Navarre
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
PensaKeyla Proud! Relive Top 3 Idol Finalist Keyla Richardson’s Concert, Parade
May 12, 2026
Keyla Richardson’s quest to be the next American Idol ended at the Top 3 on Monday night, but oh what a ride.
Last week, Richardson was in Pensacola for Keyla Fest, with a downtown parade and concert.
You can relive both in our photo galleries:
For a photo gallery from the concert parade and more, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Allie Peton, and photos courtesy Escambia County and the U.S. Navy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James M. Avery
May 12, 2026
of Pensacola passed away on May 5, 2026 at the age of 82.
He was born in Pensacola, Florida on December 12, 1943 to James Moses Avery and Leeola Coleman. James was married to the love of his life Janis A. Avery for 25 years. He had a career as a Millwright and as a Professional Beekeeper. He was a Christian that loved the Lord. James had a passionate for Alabama football, fishing, and agriculture.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Moses Avery; his mother, Leeola Coleman; and his sister, Dolly Strickland.
James is survived by his loving wife, Janis and her sons, Michael (Brittanie) and Steven (Jenny); his sister, Zoia Holland and her family: Dave, Donna, Denver, Tonya (Matt), Paige, Jocelynn, Miles, Makalynn, Ethan, Isabella, Denver II, Scarlett, Donna (Rusty), Elizabeth, and Catherine; his sister, Hurene (Otto) and their family, Christian (Adam), Eli and family, Levi and Sara Grace; the children of his sister Dolly (Deacon), Wendy (David) and son Christian, Howie (Danielle); brothers, Matt (Kathy), Clint (Hannah), Mark, Abby, Carmella Mae, Michelle.
The honorary pallbearers are Mark Avery, Matt Avery, David Stacey, Michael Krause, Steven Krause, Dave Holland, Denver, Ethan, Matt, Rusty, Howie, Christian, and Clint.
A special note of thanks to his lifelong neighbor Shelby Jean Barnhill, Brandon, Blake and families, Richard and Theresa Coffee and family. Grateful for the care and compassion of so many doctors and staff, Sacred Heart, and Select Specialty Hospital and Hospice.
John David Minnick III
May 12, 2026
John David Minnick III, 75, of Cantonment, FL , passed away on May 3, 2026 after a lengthy illness.
John was born in Baltimore, MD to the late John David Minnick, Jr. and Mary Agnes Minnick.
John was an avid deer hunter, loved the outdoors and his many cats and dogs he had throughout the years. He was the life of the party. His laughter was contagious and loved joking around. John will be deeply missed.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Carol (Davis) Minnick; brother, David Eugene Minnick; and sisters, Dee Sandnes, Mary Maier, and Susan Smith.
John is survived by his children, Brian Greene, Tania Eddins, David (Krystal) Minnick and Kathy (Chuck) Bonini; stepdaughters, Kathy Holler and Whitney Yell; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother, Robert (Kim) Minnick; and sisters, Linda Martin and Ann Barnes; numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Donations to Hotel for Cats and Dogs at www.h4dc.org
Baby, Adult Reportedly Transported Following Highway 29, Old Chemstrand Crash
May 11, 2026
A baby and an adult were reportedly transported to the hospital following an afternoon crash at Highway 29 and Old Chemstrand Road.
The crash, involving a GMC Terrain and GMC Sierra, occurred just before 1 p.m. The cause is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
None of the injuries were believed to be serious.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Krisi Barbour, click to enlarge.
