Man Convicted Of Manslaughter For Fatally Shooting Teen At 2024 Cottage Hill Party
February 20, 2026
A Cantonment man has been convicted of manslaughter for the April 2024 fatal shooting of a 16-year-old at a party at a Cottage Hill home. He was also convicted of evidence tampering as a two-day trial concluded on Friday.
Ethan Alexander O’Brien, 21, will be sentenced on April 16.
The investigation determined that during a large gathering at the residence, O’Brien, then 19, was showing off his firearm, at which time it discharged, hitting 16-year-old Bryson Allen (pictured below).
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2024, at a home in the 600 block of Wishbone Road.
The victim grabbed his side after being shot and said, “You just shot me bro” before falling to the ground, a witness told law enforcement. He said O’Brien had an “AR style” rifle and he was playing with it before the shooting.
Allen was pronounced deceased at the scene, and investigators said O’Brien fled the scene. The weapon was never found.
Pictured top: The scene on Wishbone Road in Cottage Hill late Friday night, April 12, 2024, after a teen was shot and killed. Pictured below: Crime scene tape still surrounded the home the following morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Arson For Torching His Own Jeep
February 20, 2026
A Cantonment man has been charged with arson after allegedly torching his vehicle last Sunday morning.
As we previously reported, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo was discovered burning with no one around alongside Neal Road near Pine Top Lane shortly before 9:30 a.m.
Now, Jerry Kent Calvert, 24, has been charged with felony arson in connection with the fire that destroyed his vehicle.
After the fire, deputies attempted to contact Calvert and his relatives, noting that he would not answer his phone for anyone. His parents later located him walking near the Escambia County Road Department’s Camp 5, and deputies responded.
He stated that the vehicle ran out of gas and he parked on the side of the Road at Pine Top Lane and Neal Road, an arrest report states.
His exact statement to deputies was redacted from the report, but the report states it was “because he was tired of his grandmother yelling at he and his uncle and kicking them out of the house.”
A Florida State Fire Marshal detective told deputies that burn patterns indicated that the fire was not accidental.
NorthEscambia photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Racist Comments Get Man Kicked Out Of Escambia Commission Meeting
February 20, 2026
An Escambia County man was kicked out of Thursday’s Escambia County Commission meeting after he made what was deemed to be racist comments toward District 1 Commissioner Lumon May.
Andrew Blewer signed up to address the BOCC about a $359,670 grant for the Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project, a multipart, large-scale living shoreline to be constructed within the Lower Pensacola Bay System.
The video is below, or click here.
During his allotted time, Blewer said, “Lumon May, you might like this, that we got some people that moved into our neighborhood that has a skin pigment similar to yours’ so you are look out to them or whatever.” Blewer, who is white, lives in Bellview, and May is black.
He was immediately interrupted by Board Chair Ashlee Hofberger.
“Okay, sir, we’re not going to allow racist comments here, so you can try again or you can exit,” Hofberger said. “I’m not sure why the color of your neighbor’s skin matters.”
“It shouldn’t,” Blewer exclaimed.
“Then why did you tell us?” asked Hofberger.
As Blewer continued, May said, “Andrew, I’m going to try to get staff to write a DEI grant (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) so you can have a DEI neighborhood. Then you’ll be happy.”
“Let me help you with one more thing because your time’s running. I don’t care how you address this board but keep my name out of your mouth, alright? And then we’ll be OK, alright?
Blewer replied, “You want me to take you to another chicken dinner so I can talk to you one-on-one.” His comment elicited a strong response from the audience, and prompted Hofberger to have him removed by deputies.
“Get him out and whatever we can do to suspend him from coming back, I want that done, too, so check that out,” she said to applause.
““Thank you, Madam Chair,” said Commissioner Steven Barry. “We don’t have to listen to sexist or racist comments.”
May then joked about the exchange.
“Thank you for your leadership, Madam Chair, but I think we are going to be done by 11 a.m. and chicken sounds pretty good to me,” May quipped.
Tate High Theatre Presents ‘Shrek The Musical’
February 20, 2026
Tate High School Theatre will present Shrek the Musical February 20 – 21 and February 26 – 28, at 7 p.m. nightly in the Tate High School Cafetorium.
Shrek the Musical is a heartwarming and hilarious adventure based on the popular animated film, featuring memorable characters, high-energy musical numbers, and an uplifting message about friendship and self-acceptance.
The production is a showcase of student talent and dedication. Every aspect of the show has been created entirely by students, including set construction, costume design, props, lighting, makeup, and wigs. The result is a fully student-designed theatrical experience that highlights the creativity, craftsmanship, and collaborative spirit of Tate’s thriving theatre program.
In addition, the production features double casting for the roles of Fiona, Dragon, Pinocchio, and Gingy. Each cast will perform on alternating nights, offering audiences the opportunity to enjoy unique interpretations of these beloved characters.
Tickets are $10 and will be sold at the door (cash only).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Attempted Rape, Assault Of Woman
February 20, 2026
An Atmorre man has been arrested for attempted rape and assault by the Atmore Police Department.
Clarence Benson was charged with attempted rape in the first degree and assault in the third degree against an adult female victim.
The arrest came after a report was filed and an investigation.
Atmore Police have not released any specifics on the case.
Baseball: Tate Varsity Falls To Crestview; JV And Freshmen Earn Wins
February 20, 2026
Crestview 5, Tate 3
The Crestview Bulldogs defeated the varsity Tate Aggies 5-3 on Thursday night.
Nathan Connors led the Aggies at bat with two hits. Kannon Ham and Kaden Posta each added a hit.
Starting pitcher Lance Brady went four innings for Tate, giving up three hits and three runs (none earned) while striking out five and walking one. Keelan Beasley was on the mound for two innings, surrendering two runs, no hits, walking one and striking out one.
Tate 11, Crestview 4 (JV)
The JV Aggies beat the Crestview Bulldogs 11-4 on Thursday.
Caileb Javier surrendered six hits and four runs (two earned) in five and one-third innings, walking one and striking out six. Camden Seifert threw one-third of an inning, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and striking out one.
Jordan Edmond, Trent Godwin, and Mason Williams each had two hits for Tate. Edmond and Godwin each also recorded two RBIs.
Tate 15, Elberta 2 (Freshmen)
The freshmen Tate Aggies powered past the Elberta Freshmen Warriors 15-2 on Thursday.
Brayden Luciano earned the win for the Aggies, giving up one hit and no runs in three innings, striking out three and walking none.
Grayson McLellan went 3-4 for Tate, while Trent Madden was 2-4.
Womack Homers As Northview Softball Beats West Florida 18-4
February 20, 2026
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat the West Florida Jaguars 18-4 on Thursday night.
Peyton Womack drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Chiefs to the electric win. The University of Montevallo commit had a two-run double in the seventh, a solo home run to right field in the fourth, and a sacrifice fly to score one in the fifth.
Davonia Randolph was on fire, going 5-6 at the plate. Kyel Langham and Aubrey Hadley each added two hits.
In the circle, MiKayla McAnally earned the win for Northview, allowing 10 hits and four runs (three earned) in a complete seven innings, striking out six and walking none.
Next up, the 1-0 Chiefs will host Pace on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Tate Boys Tennis Beats Milton 7-0
February 20, 2026
Thursday, Tate Aggies Boys Tennis beat Milton 7-0 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The Aggie Boys were coming off a 7-0 win over Washington on Tuesday, and a 7-0 win over Escambia on February 12. Up next, Tate will face Navarre.
The Tate Girls fell to Milton 5-2 on Thursday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Firearm Possession
February 20, 2026
An Escambia County convicted felon has been sentenced on a federal firearms charge.
Jerney Jabara Purifoy, 33, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will then be on supervised release for three years.
Court documents reflect that deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Purifoy’s residence. In his bedroom, deputies located a loaded 9-millimeter handgun. In another room, deputies located a loaded .22 caliber AR15-style rifle.
Purifoy has prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and fleeing or eluding law enforcement, and he also has a pending case in Escambia County state court related to animal cruelty, animal fighting, and confinement of animals without sufficient food or water.
He faced up to 15 years in prison.
Century CRA Reemerges with $191K Balance For Blighted Area; First Meeting in Years Held
February 19, 2026
The Century Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) now has $191,151.89 in the bank and will soon begin to consider how potential projects can improve blighted areas of the town.
The five members of the Century Town Council and one citizen currently sit as the CRA board, which is expected to meet quarterly. However, a meeting this week was the first in years, and financial information has not been published since the 2021-2022 operating year.
Eric Christianson, a planner for the Emerald Coast Regional Council, met with the CRA board this week for a presentation on what the CRA is and how the agency can work to improve a portion of the town.
In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowing the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen” in 2018, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county, and other taxing authorities.
The redevelopment area receives 95% of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. Along with small interest earnings, the CRA has spent nothing on improving the area to date, as far as we know from financial reports that were last published nearly three years ago.
The CRA funds can be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King (see map below).
Tax Increment Financing is a unique tool available to cities and counties for redevelopment activities. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activities in the targeted redevelopment area. Property owners in the CRA pay the same tax rate as those in the remainder of the town.
TIF revenue can be used on a “pay as you go” basis, where the annual stream of revenue is used to fund small projects, or used to pay debt service costs over the life of a project lasting 10 or more years. Historically in Florida, TIF has been effective at generating large amounts of funding for capital investments for roadway improvements, flood control programs, water and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements, parking lots and garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks, street and sidewalk tree plantings, signs and building construction.
After a February 2016 tornado damaged or destroyed 40 homes and businesses, the town looked to address the long-term effects on the community of a downturn in economic development. That led to the redevelopment area.
The CRA plan sets a roadmap for future development and spending to eliminate existing conditions of blight and to encourage continued private investment. The plan also provides a framework for coordinating and facilitating public and private redevelopment within the area.
This week, the CRA board set future meetings for 5:30 p.m., before regular 6:15 council meetings, on March 2, June 23, September 15, and November 17. The board is expected to receive current financial details at the March 2 meeting.
Pictured: The Century CRA held a workshop meeting this week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Century CRA boundary map, click to enlarge.
