Century Teen Accused In Fatal Showalter Park Shooting Will Be Tried As Adult, Arrest Report Reveals New Details
August 25, 2026
A 16-year-old Century teen charged with first-degree murder for a deadly shooting at Showalter Park will be tried as an adult, authorities confirmed Monday.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Keyunta Iveon Ewing of Mayo Street will be transferred to adult court, with formal charges to be determined at that time. A timetable for the court transfer is not yet known.
Ewing, known locally as “Baby K,” surrendered to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on Friday night, August 21, at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Pensacola. He was booked on an active warrant for first-degree felony murder without premeditation in connection with the August 13 shooting that left 20-something Adarius Da’Shun Odom dead and another young man injured.
Newly released arrest warrant affidavits obtained by NorthEscambia.com reveal extensive details about what investigators say happened leading up to and during the fatal encounter.
The Incident and Scene
At approximately 6:53 p.m. on August 13, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office patrol units were dispatched to Showalter Park at 7890 Kelly Field Road in Century following reports of a shots-fired disturbance.
Arriving deputies located Odom, known as “Daily,” lying on his back behind a white four-door Kia sedan in the parking area between the ball field and playground. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. Escambia County EMS responded to perform life-saving measures, but Odom was pronounced deceased at the scene. Spent shell casings were discovered near his body.
Shortly afterward, a second victim, Da’Quan “Money” Johnson, arrived at Jay Hospital suffering from a through-and-through gunshot wound to his leg. Both Odom and Johnson were members of the 2018 Flomaton High School state championship Hurricanes football team.
While there were no organized activities taking place at Showalter Park at the time, youth football and cheerleading practices were underway nearby at Anthony Pleasant Park, which is connected to Showalter by a wooded trail and footbridge. The sound of multiple gunshots prompted coaches and Century Blackcats Youth Football and Cheerleading organizers to halt practice and clear the park.
Conflicting Statements and Video Evidence
About an hour and a half after the shooting, ECSO investigators interviewed Ewing at the Century Precinct. According to the report, Ewing claimed he had gone to the park to watch a prearranged fistfight between two individuals.
Last week, Sheriff Chip Simmons said a group of seven to eight people, some from Alabama and some from Florida, had gathered at Showalter Park to reportedly fight over a girl.
Ewing told investigators that after the fight, Odom reached into his waistband and stated, “You ain’t going to do that to my boy,” prompting Ewing to run toward the woods. Ewing claimed he heard three gunshots as he ran, followed by approximately four more once he entered the tree line.
During that initial interview, Ewing was wearing a red and gray hoodie and black shorts.
However, investigators executed a search warrant on the cellphone of another witness who had been at the park. Video recovered from the phone showed two males engaging in a fistfight, with Ewing walking around near the end of the recording wearing a pink hoodie and dark-colored shorts.
Witness Accounts Describe Ambush and Robbery
Witness statements provided to investigators contradicted Ewing’s initial claims.
A witness at Jay Hospital told deputies that he had gone to Showalter Park with four of his cousins to settle an argument through a fistfight, stating nobody intended to use a firearm. He reported that after the fight, a shorter male in a hoodie approached one of his cousins with a handgun and attempted to rob him before opening fire the evening of August 13.
On August 15, another witness provided a sworn statement at the ECSO 6th Precinct in Century. The witness stated that after the fistfight ended, the group was standing around talking about playing video games. At that point, the witness said Ewing pulled a handgun from his shorts, pointed it at Odom, and demanded, “Give it up, give it up,” before shouting, “Get the drake, get the drake” — street slang referring to a Draco AK-47 style pistol, according to the report.
The witness told deputies that Odom raised both hands and said, “Hold on bro, you got it,” before Ewing shot Odom four to five times in the chest. The witness stated Johnson was also hit in the leg during the gunfire before they rushed him to Jay Hospital. The witness subsequently identified Ewing from a photo lineup.
On August 19, investigators conducted an interview with another witness at the West Fraser Timber Company sawmill in McDavid. That witness corroborated the account, stating he heard Odom say, “You got it, you got it,” looked over to see Odom with his hands up and Ewing pointing a gun, and watched Ewing open fire before everyone fled. That witness also positively identified Ewing in a photo lineup.
Retaliatory Gunfire and Ongoing Case
The same evening as the homicide, deputies responded around 8:00 p.m. to a separate shots-fired call on Mayo Street, just blocks from the park, where multiple bullet holes were found in a home. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons previously stated investigators believe that home is connected to Ewing and that the gunfire was retaliatory.
Ewing remains held pending his formal transfer and proceedings in adult circuit court.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview FFA Students Take Top Three In Farm Bureau Speech Contest
August 25, 2026
Northview High School FFA took the top spots at the recent Escambia County Farm Bureau Speech Contest.
Grace Oliver (pictured top) earned first place honors, followed by Nathan Gilmore in second place and Payton Coon in third place, all representing the Northview FFA chapter.
Participants delivered a five-minute speech before a panel of agricultural community judges on the topic: “What are some of the proactive, collaborative steps that farmers, ranchers, local communities, and organizations like Farm Bureau can take to help guard against invasive species threatening Florida agriculture?”
As the first-place winner, Oliver will advance to represent Escambia County at the district-level contest on September 18.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Health Seeks To Drop Four Required School Vaccines
August 25, 2026
The state of Florida wants to remove four immunizations from entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools.
The Florida Department of Health is proposing a rule to remove Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for public school attendance, a move that has been in play for almost a year after Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced his intent to get rid of all vaccine mandates in the state.
The rule, which was approved by Ladapo on Aug. 20, has a 21-day period for public input before final approval. DOH did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
The proposed rule also expands religious vaccine exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs and lets parents and college students opt out of having their records included in the state vaccine database.
Florida currently allows religious exemptions “if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child’s parent or guardian,” according to DOH.
Without an exemption, Florida law requires students to receive vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus to attend K-12 public schools. But the immunizations considered for repeal by DOH are only an agency rule, not in state law, and can be repealed by the agency itself.
Last September, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ladapo called on the Legislature to roll back all vaccine mandates in the state.
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo said in Valrico, Hillsborough County, at the time.
“Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God,” he added.
In response, American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan Kressly said the move will put children at risk of getting sick.
“The AAP believes every family should have access to immunizations to keep their community healthy,” Kressly said in a released statement. “Schools are an important part of that community. For many kids, the best part of school is being with friends — sharing space, playing on the playground and trading germs. Close contact makes it easy for contagious diseases to spread quickly.”
Even though the move to repeal all vaccine mandates was supported by DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and then-Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, no legislator filed a bill in any of the multiple legislative sessions in 2026 to remove those requirements from Florida law.
Multiple attempts at a “Medical Freedom” bill that would have expanded vaccine exemptions and mandated doctors to provide an alternate vaccine schedule passed the state Senate but failed to pass the state House.
In December 2025, DOH held an open meeting in Panama City to discuss changing the vaccination requirements for public schools, which Emma Spencer, a director within DOH, said was “grounded in policy based on considerations that favor parental rights and medical freedom.”
Parents’ rights advocates praised the state and also repeated false claims, such as vaccines cause autism, while doctors from around the state pleaded with DOH to reconsider and said it would turn back the clock on medical advancements.
Eehab Kenawy, a Panama City pediatrician, said religious exemptions already exist to allow parents and guardians to opt out of vaccinations for their children.
“You’re not forced. But sending a message to the general public that vaccines are not important, vaccines are not needed, is not the way to do it,” Kenawy said.
by The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Man Who Fled Traffic Stop And Hid In Air Duct Sentenced To Jail
August 25, 2026
A Cantonment man arrested earlier this year after hiding in an air duct following a traffic stop has been sentenced to jail time.
Kevin Jacob Moore, 36, entered a plea of no contest in Escambia County Circuit Court to possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, operating while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and a lesser offense of failure to obey a law enforcement officer.
Moore was originally charged with felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with active lights and sirens, but prosecutors amended the charge down to the lesser offense of failure to obey.
Judge Amy P. Brodersen adjudicated Moore guilty on all three counts and sentenced him to 11 months and 15 days in the county jail on each count, to run concurrently, with credit for five days already served. His driver’s license was also revoked.
The charges stem from a February 15, 2026, incident when an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop at Palafox Road and East Roberts Road after pacing Moore’s vehicle at 56 mph in a 45 mph zone. Moore refused to provide his identification and documentation before telling the deputy, “I’m out,” and speeding away through a red light at East Kingsfield Road.
Deputies tracked the vehicle to a residence on Turnberry Road in Cantonment. After receiving consent to search the home, deputies discovered Moore hiding inside an air duct in the hallway. A K9 search of the vehicle later alerted to narcotics, uncovering crack cocaine near the driver’s seat. A records check also revealed Moore had multiple previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.
DeSantis Announces New Restrictions On ‘Inappropriate’ Temporary Cash Assistance Purchases
August 25, 2026
Florida is set to become the first state in the nation to restrict how recipients spend state cash welfare benefits, banning the purchase of luxury, entertainment, and non-essential goods and services.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan to prohibit Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) funds from being used directly on items such as tobacco, video games, theme park tickets, and tattoos.
“Florida has become the first in the nation to set guardrails on our TANF State Plan to stop these taxpayer-funded benefits from being used to purchase inappropriate, luxury, and non-essential goods and services,” DeSantis said. “Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence. We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”
- Under the revised state plan, TCA benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
- Drugs and intoxicants
- Pornography
- Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admissions, and streaming or entertainment subscriptions
- Tattoos, spa services, tanning, and other luxury personal care
- Psychic and fortune-telling services
TCA benefits are distributed via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to help low-income families cover basic necessities, including food, housing, utilities, clothing, and household essentials. The average household enrolled in the program receives about $250 per month. Florida also directs TANF funding to its Relative Caregiver Program, which supports caregivers for more than 4,000 children statewide.
“Temporary Cash Assistance is designed to provide families with flexibility during times of need, and these commonsense changes preserve that flexibility while strengthening the integrity of the program,” said Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Kate Williams. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to ensure government assistance serves as a bridge to greater stability and independence while safeguarding taxpayer resources.”
Florida law already restricts EBT cards from being used for alcohol or processed at casinos, gaming facilities, adult entertainment venues, pari-mutuel betting sites, and bingo halls, with point-of-sale and ATM blocks managed by the state’s EBT vendor. The new policy broadens item- and category-level restrictions at authorized retailers.
State officials noted the policy also aligns with the state’s broader self-sufficiency and public assistance initiatives.
The changes follow recent nutritional restrictions under Florida’s Healthy SNAP initiative, which took effect in April 2026 to ban the use of SNAP benefits for soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts.
State officials said the new TCA spending restrictions will roll out in phases, starting with SNAP-authorized retailers before expanding item-level transaction controls across additional merchants and service providers.
Learn To Do Business With Escambia County At Upcoming Event
August 25, 2026
The Escambia County Office of Purchasing is hosting a free open house for current vendors and anyone interested in learning more about doing business with Escambia County on Wednesday, Septempber 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The open house will take place in the Escambia County Purchasing Office, located on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place.
Representatives from Escambia County, Apex Accelerator, and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce will be in attendance to meet with vendors and discuss services and upcoming projects. Purchasing staff will be available to answer questions about the procurement process, registering as a vendor, and more.
Attendees are encouraged to register prior to the event. Register here via Eventbrite.
For questions or more information, please contact the Office of Purchasing at 850-595-4980 or purchasing@myescambia.com.
Possible Infant Skull Found In Wooded Area Near Byrneville Prompts Investigation — But It Was A ‘Realistic Fake’
August 24, 2026
An investigation determined that a possible human skull found Sunday evening near Byrneville was, in fact, not human or primate.
The small skull, described as an old but realistic-looking, was located in a wooded area on the east side of Rains Road, less than a mile north of West Highway 4 before 6 p.m. by someone feeding cats. Concerned that the skull might be that of an infant, the person finding it called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
At first glance, the “skull” pieces appeared to be real and belonged to an infant or even a primate like a monkey, according to the ECSO, which was attempting to locate an anthropologist for an opinion.
After further investigation, “the Medical Examiner determined that the “skull” is a realistic-looking fake,” Morgan Lewis, spokesperson for the ECSO said shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
George Stone Offering GED Classes At Molino Community Center
August 24, 2026
Adults looking to earn a high school diploma have a local option in North Escambia as GED preparation classes are now underway at the Molino Branch Library.
Offered through George Stone Technical College (GSTC) in partnership with the library, the program features open enrollment, allowing new students to register and begin classes at any time. Instruction will be led by new teacher Ken Marlin, combining traditional classroom lessons with individualized support to help students meet their educational goals.
Classes at the Molino Library meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Earning a GED opens the door to improved employment prospects, higher earning potential, and access to trade programs or higher education.
In addition to the Molino Library, GSTC provides GED prep courses across Escambia County, including:
- Blue Angels Elementary
- CareerSource Escarosa
- C.A. Weis Elementary
- GSTC Main Campus, 2400 Longleaf Drive
- Online classes featuring flexible scheduling and personalized instruction
For more information or to enroll, contact Patricia Harrison by email at pharrison@ecsdfl.us or call (850) 786-6515. Additional details about available courses and technical programs can be found online at gstc.escambiaschools.org.
Stock image.
No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
August 24, 2026
There were no serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night on Highway 97 at Nokomis Road in Davisville.
The driver of a northbound Silverado pickup truck on Highway 97 apparently attempted to turn left into the Marathon Station parking lot and traveled into the path of a southbound passenger car on Highway 97. Both vehicles came to a stop in the parking lot.
The passenger and driver of the sedan were transported by Escambia County EMS to a freestanding emergency room on Nine Mile Road with injuries that were not considered severe.
For additional photos, click here.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Week 1: Winners, Losers, And Lots Of Photos
August 24, 2026
Week one of North Escambia area football in Florida is in the books.
The Northview Chiefs and Pensacola Catholic High Crusaders opened play on Thursday night, and walking away stong winners.
The Tate Aggies, Jay Royals, Washington Wildcats, Central Jaguars, and Pace Patriots were the Florida winners, while West Florida, Pine Forest and Pensacola High lost.
TATE AGGIES
- For a bonus photo gallery, from Tate with cheerleaders, Lil’ Aggies cheerleaders, Showband, and more, click here.
- For a Tate Aggies game recap and photos, click here.
NORTHVIEW CHIEFS
- For a Northview gallery with the band, cheerleaders, fans, and more, click here.
- For a Northview game recap and action photos, click here.
Complete scoreboard:
FLORIDA
Friday, August 21
- Tate 40, Marianna 13 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 35, Baker 6
- Walton 52, West Florida 7
- South Walton 50, Gulf Breeze 0
- Washington 27, Pine Forest 26
- Fort Walton Beach 41, Pensacola 6
- Central 37, Graceville 6
- Pace 41, Fairhope 0
- Florida High 37, Navarre 13
Thursday, August 20
- Northview 40, Rocky Bayou 6 [Story, photos...]
- Pensacola Catholic 20, Milton 0
Pictured: NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
