More Details Released: Cantonment Man Charged With Shooting His Brother In The Quintette Community
September 22, 2024
We are learning more about what deputies say happened during an incident last weekend that left one brother shot and another brother charged with attempted murder.
Horace Brown, Jr., was charged with attempted second degree murder and violating a domestic violence injunction by possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition following the incident reported around 1:50 p.m. in the 2800 block of Highway 95, just north of Quinette Road.
Shortly after the incident, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Brown claimed he shot his brother to intervene in an altercation where the brother was allegedly hitting their mother.
According to a recently released arrest report, Brown was in his recording studio, located in a shed in the backyard of the family’s mobile home. He told deputies that his brother has a history of mental issues that cause him to him to have violent outbursts. He told deputies that he heard his mother and brother in a loud altercation inside the resident.
“He ran into the residence and stated that his mother was being attacked and that he ‘boom boom boom boom’ indicating that he shot (the victim),” the ECSO report states. Brown refused to speak further without an attorney present.”
Investigators responded to Sacred Heart Hospital but were unable to speak to the victim because he was undergoing surgery.
The mother told deputies that both brothers are her children and all live together at the residence. She said that the victim became upset, and she told him to go outside to cool off, the report states, and she went outside onto the porch where he punched her in the face. After she was allegedly punched in the face, they went back inside the residence to the kitchen.
She said that a few minutes later, Brown entered the back door, pulled a firearm, and pointed it at the victim, according to investigators. The mother yelled several times for Brown not to shoot his brother before one shot was fired.
The mother stated that Brown “did not need to do that, and at no point was she in fear for her life due to the attack by (the victim)”, the report says. She stated, “that the initial battery between her and (the victim) was separate incident from when Brown, Jr. shot (the victim) as where was no continuation of the initial altercation.”
In 2005, Brown had been served with a permanent domestic violence injunction that contained a condition that he was never to possess firearms or ammunition.”
Investigators located two projectiles and one shell casing in the kitchen of the home.
Brown has entered a not guilty plea in the case through his public defender and is due back in court next month.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registration Underway For Tri-City Children’s Choir
September 22, 2024
Young singers in the Century, Jay, Flomaton, and surrounding areas in grades 1-6 are invited to join the Tri-City Children’s Choir, a program of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
Weekly rehearsals begin on October 10 from 4-5 p.m. at the First Pentecostal Church Century Campus at 8451 North Century Boulevard
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify, with rates as low as $25 per month.
To learn more and register, visit www.TriCityChoir.org or contact program director Holley Driver at (850) 324-6182.
Holly Driver has more than 15 years experience in music lessons, including piano. She grew up playing and singing at First Pentecostal Century and has taught in the Escambia County School District for over 15 years. She also served as the choral director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino for nine years during which the choir grew under her direction and leadership.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Argos Valiant Comeback Falls Short in Double OT Loss to UWA
September 22, 2024
by Bill Vilona
The dramatic finish UWF’s football team waged late Saturday night ended in heartbreak.
But not without promise.
Trailing 20-10 in the fourth quarter, the 12th-ranked Argos tied the game on their final possession, then twice produced overtime touchdowns, only to fall on a missed two-point conversion attempt to extend the game, as No. 23-ranked West Alabama held on for a wild 35-33 win at Pen Air Field.
This season’s Gulf South Conference opener for both teams became memorable. Just for different reasons.
“Obviously it’s frustrating to lose like that, double overtime…physically exhausting,” said Argos head coach Kaleb Nobles. “But I am so proud of the team with how they played – four quarters. I love them to death. I tell them that every day, but they showed me today that they love each other. It hurts to lose. It should hurt to lose. But this team has heart. This team has fight.”
It was the Argos second double-overtime loss on this field. They sustained a 45-42 loss on Sept. 24, 2022 against GSC rival Delta State in a season where UWF quickly recovered and reached the NCAA Division II national semifinals.
No way to tell, of course, how this season might evolve, but Nobles gained some insight about his team’s makeup two games into the schedule.
After a 16-day gap from UWF’s season-opening win Sept. 5, the Argos’ offense battled through three sluggish quarters, then a display of grit at the end.
“We just came up one play short,” Nobles said. “That’s part of football, part of life. These guys are resilient, they will learn and I promise you we will be better, because of this game.”
The enthralling finish left West Alabama (4-0) unbeaten and with back-to-back season wins against UWF. The Tigers head coach Brett Gilliland is a Pensacola native and former Escambia High School quarterback star when playing for his father, Ronnie Gilliland.
Both men were star players in different eras for West Alabama. After his father passed away in February 2023, this was Brett’s first win against UWF in returning to his hometown.
As UWF (1-1) might have feared, the longest break between games in team history had its effects in the first half on the Argos offense and first-year starting quarterback Marcus Stokes.
The Argos had only two of their six offensive possessions result in first downs. They finished the half with less than 100 yards of total offense as the unit looked to find its rhythm.
But they only trailed 7-3 at halftime. West Alabama got a 9-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter, then UWF kicker Cade Lombardo – a Gulf Breeze High graduate – converted a 28-yard field goal with 2:23 left in the half.
The first five minutes of the second half became a different kind of game. And a preview of what would ensue later.
West Alabama scored on its first second-half possession to take a 14-3 lead and keep the crowd of 5,000-plus mostly quiet.
The Argos then hit the game’s longest play when Stokes threw a perfect deep ball to Corey Scott, who caught the pass in stride, then juked his way pass the defender for a 73-yard scoring play.
After a pair of field goals from West Alabama’s Elijah Guyton, the Tigers had a two-score lead (20-10) on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The Argos then finished a nine-play, 74 yard drive to get back in the game when Stokes connected with Jackson Blalock on a 12-yard scoring pass.
“(West Alabama) played some different stuff (on defense),” Nobles said. “They changed it up, we knew they would give us something different just because Marcus is a 19-year-old redshirt freshman (quarterback). They’re going to do everything to mess with him and we have to keep improving with everyone around him. But I thought we woke up in the second half and played very well and took what they gave us. I love this team. I can’t say it enough.”
The Argos got the ball back with 5:43 left in the game. They used 11 plays and erased most of the game clock to tie the game on Lombardo’s 28-yard field goal.
Overtime followed. The Argos scored first, needing just two plays from the 25 to take a lead after Jamontez Woods scored from 3-yards out. But the Tigers answered with a six-play drive and converted the PAT to tie.
The overtime rules for a second OT require teams to go for two points. West Alabama produced a 25-yard scoring pass from quarter Spencer Arceneaux, a Mobile native, Arceneaux then converted the two-point play in a uncertain way as he slid and reached the ball over the pylon.
Nobles challenged the call. The GSC officials spent considerable time in the replay tent before confirming the two-point play was good.
“It’s tough to win a challenge a lot of times in the GSC because of maybe they don’t have the right angle, things like that,” Nobles said. “But in my mind, a two point conversion is worth a challenge as opposed to keeping a timeout. We fell like his knee was down and maybe with a tough angle it’s hard to see.”
The Argos were down to their final play. They faced fourth down from the 12. Stokes bought some time and hit Da’Mani brought for the touchdown. But on the two point attempt, Stokes rolled to his right and his pass toward the end zone was batted down by the Tigers’ defensive front.
Nobles instantly consoled Stokes as the quarterback walked toward the sideline. Stokes finished completing 13 of 37 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, two interceptions.
“I told him, ‘Hey man, I love you to death.’ And big picture is we took a chance on Marcus Stokes,” said Nobles, of the former Florida Gators recruit. “We didn’t have to take him, we didn’t have to recruit him, but I love the kid, I love how he’s growing up as a man with so much that people don’t see. I told him I love how you played. Because he didn’t quit. He didn’t play perfect, but he did what he had to do to give us a chance. And we came up one play short. He gave us a chance.”
Woods led UWF’s rushing game with 40 yards on 14 carries.
“Like coach said, we’re going to fight. I love my teammates to death. I’ll fight with them every day,” Woods said.
The Argos will now turn attention to next Saturday’s marquee matchup against Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CST at Lubbers Stadium.
Photo Emily Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Girlfriend Of 2023 Escambia County Mugs And Jugs Murder Suspect Sentenced On Plea Deal
September 21, 2024
The girlfriend of suspect in an August 2023 murder at Mugs & Jugs has taken a plea deal in connection with the incident.
Rachel Marie Derise, now 24, was charged with misdemeanor battery following the incident. Under the plea deal, she was sentenced to 60 days in county jail and 12 months probation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DeRise was the girlfriend of Christian Ketchup who was charged with homicide in the shooting death of 25-year old Tierra Binion.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Binion and Derise were involved in an argument before Derise punched Binion.
Investigators said Ketchup then pulled a handgun and shot Binion seven times.
Ketchup remains without bond in the Escambia County Jail charged with murder. He is due back in court next week.
High Speed Chase Ends With Highway 29 Crash, One Arrest
September 21, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested an Escambia County man after a high-speed chase that ended in a crash on Highway 29.
The incident began when the Trooper attempted to stop a blue Jaguar sedan near the intersection of Detroit Street and Highway 29. The vehicle was suspected of being involved in criminal activity, and its registered owner had an active felony warrant from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for possession of dangerous drugs.
When the trooper tried to pull the vehicle over, the driver fled, leading to a high speed chaseu. The suspect vehicle ran a red light and collided with a white Toyota Rav4 at the intersection of Highway 29 and West Detroit Boulevard.
The suspect then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The trooper pursued him on foot, giving verbal commands for him to stop. The suspect jumped a fence and continued running before being apprehended by trooper.
The suspect, identified as 22- year Terfa Josaphat Uvah, was transported to a local hospital. After being discharged, he was arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail. He faces charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, hit and run with serious injury, reckless driving with serious injuries, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remained jail without bond.
The driver of the Toyota Rav4 was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries..
Northview Chiefs Fall Short In Close Battle With Holmes County
September 21, 2024
In a contest that went down to the wire, the Northview Chiefs narrowly fell to the Holmes County Blue Devils by a score of 34-27 Friday night.
The Blue Devils lit up the scoreboard with about eight minutes to go in the first quarter. With a failed two-point attempt, Holmes led the Chiefs 6-0.
But the first quarter would not end without an answer from the visiting Chiefs. With about a minute to go in the first, quarterback Dane King connected with Sam Reid for a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. With a good kick, the tables turned with the Chiefs on top 7-6.
The teams traded blows throughout the game, with Northview’s Moses Delarosa adding a 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
In the final minutes of the game, Northview made a late push, with King scoring two rushing touchdowns to bring his team within striking distance but short on time with just 37 seconds on the game clock. The Holmes County Blue Devils were able to hold on and secure the victory.
The Northview Chiefs (2-3) will be back at home next in Bratt Friday night against the Blue Devils of Atmore’s Escambia County High School (1-4).
Pictured top: Northview’s Dane King. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 21, 2024
Here are this week’s North Escambia area high school Friday night high school football soree, along with a from Thursday night.
FLORIDA
Holmes County 34, Northview 27 [Game details..]
Pensacola Catholic 23, Pine Forest 0
Washington 16, Gulf Breeze 6
Mosley 38, Escambia 13
Navarre 15, Milton 13
Pace 42, Andalusia 13
Tate 42, West Florida 7 (Thurs) [Read more, photos...]
Jay 23, Chipley 13 (Thurs)
ALABAMA
Bayside Academy 14, Flomaton 0
Escambia Academy 27, Clarke Prep 16
T.R. Miller 33, Hillcrest 28
Marianna 49, W.S. Neal 36
St. Michael Catholic 49, Escambia County (Atmore) 12
Pictured: The Tate Aggies defeated the West Florida Jaguars 42-7 Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Crash Involving Car, Two Motorcycles Claims Three Lives
September 20, 2024
An Escambia County crash involving a car and two motorcycles early Friday morning claimed three lives.
A 42-year-old female from Pensacola stopped her sedan at a stop sign on Clearwater Avenue where she turned left onto Michigan Avenue and directly into the path of two oncoming motorcycles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Both motorcyclists, a 22-year-old man from Pensacola and a 24-year old man from Pace, were pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash, which happened about 12:04 a.m.
The driver of the car was transported to Baptist Hospital where she died, troopers said.
Couple Sentenced For Abusing Horses Near Century
September 20, 2024
Two people have been sentenced on animal cruelty charges for failing to properly care for their horses, one of which later died.
Richard Allen Jones, Jr., and his wife Katy Lynell Jones both pleaded no contest to two counts of animal cruelty, and Judge Linda Nobles withheld adjudication in sentencing each to 270 days in the county jail on each count to be served concurrently with probation terminating on release. Each faced up to five years in prison, according to court documents.
Richard Jones was remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence. Nobles ordered Katy Jones to report to a probation officer within hours of the sentencing and allowed Karty Jones to remain free and to turn herself in to serve her sentence within 10 days of Richard Jones being released from jail. The sentencing arrangement was made due to the couple having young children at home.
According to prosecutors, Richard Jones, Jr., and his wife Katy Jones both owned horses that were not cared for on Killam Road near Century, and both “failed to provide property care and treatment, which led to the intentional and unnecessary and repeated pain and suffering of said horses” between July 2022 and February 2023.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s office responded to call on February 4, 2023, about horses that had been let in a random field on Killam Road, one of which was down and suffering because no one had fed them. The couple had been living in a home located on the property several months prior.
“People need to know they can’t starve their horses,” Diane Lowery of the rescue group Panhandle Equine Rescue said. “They both had their own private counsel and little to no criminal history. We were expecting probation, but Escambia County takes animal cruelty very seriously and strives to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Animal cruelty should not be tolerated, as it speaks to a person’s lack of ability to care, which usually affects humans in their life; their spouse and children are also victim,” shea dded.
Editor’s note: Some readers may find the details and photos below disturbing. Discretion is advised. The details are from an ECSO arrest report.
“I observed a horse lying on its side in the field, and the horse appeared to be deceased,” a deputy wrote in his report. “As I approached the horse that was lying on its side, the horse tried to raise its head in an attempt to get up, however the horse was barely able to move. I observed the horse to be extremely emaciated, with its rib bones and hip bones projecting prominently.”
“I observed the area around the horse to be torn and dug up in a circular area where the horse had obviously thrashed and spun around on the ground in an attempt to get up. The horse has its head and neck lying in horse feces,” the deputy continued. “It was obvious that the horse had been there for a while.”
Deputies noted another horse in the pasture area that was also extremely emaciated with rib and hip bones projecting prominently. The horse’s hoofs were cracked and split extremely bad.
A small pony and goat in the pasture appeared fine.
“I did not observe any remnants of food in the pasture area that would indicate that the animals have been fed recently. I also observed the water trough to be dry with no potable water in the pasture. I did observe a small area of standing water in the pasture which appeared to be unsuitable for consumption.”
In a FaceTime conversation with the animal control officer, Katy Jones said the horses had received some feed three days before the ECSO was called, but it had been about two weeks since they had received a bale of hay. She stated that a veterinarian had not been contacted, but that her husband would be checking on the horses and moving them to green grass. Rickard Jones told the investigator that he would come by three times a week to feed the animals.
A livestock officer arrived on scene and took possession of the animals.
Pictured top: A malnourished pony is fed after being removed from a property near Century. Pictured first photo below: A malnourished horse was transported to Panhandle Equine Rescue. Pictured second photo below: Volunteers fight to save “Slick, who did not survive the night. Pictured bottom two photos: A second malnourished horse. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pictured: The Harvest Moon (And What Is It?)
September 20, 2024
A harvest moon was over West Florida High School Thursday night as the Jaguars fell to the Tate Aggies.
The moon was as waning gibbous phase, with 97% illuminated. The full moon was Wednesday night.
The harvest moon was actually its brightest just afternoon sunset on Tuesday, and it was also a supermoon.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive.” This year, the fall equinox and the first day of fall is Sunday, September 22.
We snapped the photo above quickly without the aid of a tripod. (Canon R6 with a Canon f/2.8 70-200mm if you are curious about that sort of thing). We don’t know the identity of the helicopter pictured; it did not appear on an online flight tracker.
NorthEscambia.com photo by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.