Five People Shot At Apartment Complex; SUV Involved Found Torched At Quintette Park
April 16, 2021
A Ford Escape found torched in the Quintette Park Thursday night was the vehicle involved in the shooting of five people earlier in the evening at Oakwood Terrace Apartments, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Friday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s office is looking for the two individuals pictured for questioning only in the incident.
About 6 p.m., the stolen Ford Escape occupied by four people pulled into the apartment complex on Truman Avenue in Pensacola. Two males with handguns fanned out, while two with long guns stayed nearby before. They all began to shoot, with about 40 rounds fired toward a group of people gathered outside.
Two females and three males were hit the gunfire. None of injuries were life threatening, but some are in serious condition. One person was shot in the chest and another in the head, according to the sheriff.
“These are people that intended to kill people, and they didn’t care who it was,” Simmons said. “They didn’t care if it was the person they were looking for, and they didn’t care for those person they were talking to. They didn’t care if it was a young child they were holding or a child in the area. They quite simply did not care.”
About 8:20 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle fire was reported in the Quintette Park. The Ford Escape was fully involved when the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue arrived on scene. It was located near the ball fields on the north side of the park. A gas can was visible just a few feet away from the burned out vehicle.
As of Friday afternoon, the four suspects had not been identified.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on the incident, or that may have seen the Ford Escape (pictured below at Oakwood Terrace prior to the fire), to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.
Update: At the time of the incident, ECSO believed six people were shot, but that number was later revised to five.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Five People Injured In Shooting At Escambia County Apartment Complex
April 16, 2021
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY WITH MORE DETAILS, CLICK OR TAP HERE.
Five people were shot at an Escambia County apartment complex Thursday evening.
About 6 p.m., a dark colored vehicle pulled into the Oakwood Terrace Apartments complex at 700 Truman Avenue and several people opened fire.
“A group of people exited that vehicle and just started opening fire. We estimated at least a dozen rounds have been fired,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. “They were shooting indiscriminately into a group of people.”
Five people that were shot and transported to Baptist and Sacred Heart hospital.
As of late Thursday night, no arrests had been reported.
Update: At the time of the incident, ECSO believed six people were shot, but that number was later revised to five.
Pictured: Law enforcement at the Oak Terrace Apartments complex on Truman Avenue Thursday evening after six people were shot. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: We Still Expect To Open The Pensacola Bridge The Week Of May 31
April 16, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation said Thursday that repairs on the Pensacola Bay Bridge are still on track to be completed by the week of May 31.
As FDOT contractors install and repair the final five trophy pieces on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, considerable efforts have shifted to the construction and completion of the remaining bridge decks on the structure.
Deck constructions consists of several key phases including:
- Placement of concrete beams. During this process, precast beams are transported to the bridge site, and erected onto the abutments and piers.
- Installation of stay-in-place forms and rebar (reinforced steel). The stay-in-place forms will allow the forms to remain in place when the concrete is poured, eliminating the need to remove the forms ultimately accelerating construction.
- Pouring and leveling concrete. Concrete is poured in the forms and a machine levels and smoothes the concrete surface to ensure that the top of the slab is at the correct elevation or grade.
- Curing of the deck. Curing keeps the concrete damp or moist until the hardening of concrete is complete, and strength is attained.
The targeted reopening of the bridge remains the week of May 31, 2021. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Structure Fire Reported At Cantonment Family Dollar, But The Smoke Was Not From A Fire
April 16, 2021
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a reported commercial structure fire at the Cantonment Family Dollar Thursday night, but there was no fire.
Callers reported smoke visible from the roof of the Family Dollar at 734 South Highway 29. Firefighters arrived and an investigation found the reported smoke was actually steam or fog. The Family Dollar and Grocery Advantage stores were also checked inside as a precaution.
The Molino. Ensley, Bellview, Brent, Beulah, and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
K-9 Cairo Retires From Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
April 16, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Cairo retired Thursday after six years on the job.
“This is a ruff letter to write, but I must inform you of my decision to retire,” Cairo “wrote” in his retirement letter to Sheriff Chip Simmons. “Every dog has its day, and today is mine.” You can read the full retirement letter in the photos below.
Cairo’s day started at his daily muster where he was showered with retirement gifts. His day ended with a special pet-friendly treat from Simmons.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Are You A Student That Can Write The Worst Bad Poem? The Library Has A Contest For You.
April 16, 2021
West Florida Public Libraries is looking for poems that are bad, really bad. None of that lovely as a tree stuff.
The WFPL is holding a Bad Poetry Contest for middle and high school students through April 30 in honor of National Poetry Month.
Here’s what to do:
1. Write the worst poem you can! It must be original to you to be the “worst,” so don’t copy anyone else.
2. Submit your poem in-person at one of seven library branches or online using this form before April 30. If you submit at a library, be sure to include your name, your grade, and a usable phone number on your submission.
3. Only one submission per person.
4. One middle school winner and one high school winner will be selected. An honorable mention for both categories will also be selected.
5. This contest will be judged by library staff. Winners will be contacted on May 14 The best bad poem will be posted on WFPL’s social media.
19-Year Old Escambia County Woman Killed In I-10 Crash
April 15, 2021
A 19-year old Escambia County woman was killed in an early morning wreck Thursday on I-10.
It happened about 1:25 a.m. on I-10 eastbound near the Ninth Avenue overpass. The Florida Highway Patrol said the woman lost control of her car and traveled onto the shoulder where she struck a tree.
A 21-year old female passenger in the vehicle was seriously injured, and a two-year old suffered minor injuries.
FHP said all occupants of the vehicle were properly restrained.
Helping Neighbors: CIC Has Distributed Tons Of Food In Cantonment Since The Start Of The Pandemic
April 15, 2021
When the pandemic forced schools to close last year, it left many families in need of help to feed their children who had relied on school breakfast and lunch.
The Cantonment community rallied together to help those kids. In March 2020, the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) and countless volunteers began to collect prepackaged food donations from the community, local churches and groups including Ascend Cares and International Paper.
Mary Holley-Lewis, who organizes the food giveaways each week, continued to see increased need in North Escambia and expanded their distributions to also support families within the community.
Manna Food Pantries became involved and partnered with CIC. Each week, Manna provides at least 150 healthy food bags – each with enough food for about five days — and additional items such as fresh produce and breads.
Since May 2020, Manna has shared more than 121,800 pounds of food, the equivalent of nearly 135,500 meals, with CIC.
On Tuesday, Manna’s latest food delivery was 3,535 pounds of food (pictured above).
The CIC food distributions begin at 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Carver Park and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. Participants are asked to line up on Webb Street facing north, and the food is loaded into vehicles. The event will take place rain or shine.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Receives Minor Injuries In Collision With Deer Near Walnut Hill
April 15, 2021
A driver received minor injuries in a collision with a deer late Wednesday night near Walnut Hill.
The female hit the deer on Highway 97A near Corley Road will enough force to deploy the air bags in her vehicle and cause her to run off the road about 11:35 p.m.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded, but the driver refused transport to the hospital. The deer did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cuteness Overload Alert: Goat Gives Birth To Triplets At Beulah Middle School
April 15, 2021
Three new “kids” joined the Beulah Middle School family Tuesday afternoon as a goat in the school’s agriscience program gave birth to triplets.
Beulah Middle agriscience teacher Leanne Jenkins tells the story, in her own words:
Y’allllllllllllll…..
My cheeks hurt so bad and my heart feels like it’s going to explode! Today we experienced the most amazing births at Beulah Middle School! I’m in tears typing this announcement to you.
We thought we had a day or two before the arrival, but we moved Mama to her “birthing suite” to get her comfortable with the area. She was there most of the day and was crying to go back to the field with her buddies.
At the beginning of the last period, I had a student go on the back porch to get a duckling. He casually walked into the classroom with the duckling and said, “That goat out there is having a baby.” I told him she’s not having her baby yet, that she had a day or two before arrival. He then said, “oh, I could have swore I saw something coming out of her bottom.”
I went running, and sure enough, there was a hoof coming out of sweet mama!!
About 40 minutes later, with 60 students and staff members quietly watching, we have healthy, thriving, triplets!!!
It was beautiful and amazing and we are all on cloud nine.
Welcome to the world sweet babies ❤️. Brace yourselves for the hundreds of students that are thrilled to have you join our farm ❤️.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
