ECSO still searching for drive-by shooting suspect who jumped off Escambia River Bridge

Escambia County Sheriff

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for the third suspect who jumped off the Escambia River Bridge on Monday while attempting to elude a potential drive-by shooting arrest.

ECSO spokesperson Morgan Lewis told the News Journal that search teams are returning back to the Escambia River Bridge on Thursday to look for the missing suspect in the drive-by that injured a 70-year-old woman on Erress Boulevard.

Lewis said the woman is still alive but remains in critical condition.

“We can’t say for sure (if he died),” Lewis told the News Journal in regards to the missing suspect. “It’s possible he was injured, I mean, that’s a pretty steep jump.”

What happened on June 24?

Deputies were notified by the Real Time Crime Center that a stolen vehicle had been spotted, so ECSO patrol deputies made their way to Erress Boulevard in Brent. Before deputies arrived, ShotSpotter notified the RTCC of 40 shots being fired on the same road as the vehicle.

Deputies then found the vehicle and began the pursuit.

Escambia County Sheriff's deputies perform a PIT maneuver on a fleeing vehicle Monday, June 24, 2024. The three suspects are thought to be the alleged shooters in a drive-by that injured a woman on Massachusetts Avenue.

Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies perform a PIT maneuver on a fleeing vehicle Monday, June 24, 2024. The three suspects are thought to be the alleged shooters in a drive-by that injured a woman on Massachusetts Avenue.

Simmons said during a Tuesday press conference that the chase ran from Massachusetts Avenue to Fairfield Drive to Interstate 10. Then the car exited on Scenic Highway traveling toward Pace.

The chase ended with a deputy performing a PIT maneuver on the fleeing vehicle on the Escambia River Bridge.

1 dies, 1 arrested, 1 missing after suspects jump off bridge

After the PIT maneuver, video shows the three suspects immediately exit the vehicle and jump off the bridge.

Simmons reported that one of the men missed the water during the jump and died from injuries related to the fall. The ECSO later identified the deceased as 22-year-old Trevion Moton.

Jaquaris Ethridge, 19, was arrested after his jump and charged with attempted first-degree premediated murder, felony murder for the death of Moton, firing missiles into a dwelling and fleeing law enforcement with lights and sirens activated.

Ethridge faces two life sentences if convicted of his charges.

The third suspect who jumped remains missing.

70-year-old woman remains critical

During the volley of 40 shots Monday, a 70-year-old woman was struck in the neck and was transported to a hospital in critical condition.

Lewis told the News Journal that the woman remains alive but is still in critical condition.

The woman was the only one injured during the shooting.

Sheriff Chip Simmons believe the shooting was retaliation

During the sheriff’s press conference, Simmons said he believes the shooting was in retaliation to the drive-by shooting that killed 22-year-old Terrell Owens on June 20.

Pensacola Police told the News Journal that Owens died at the corner of Gonzalez and M streets and that investigators were looking for a white SUV with potentially up to three suspects.

ECSO K-9 injured after jumping off bridge while pursuing suspect

ECSO K-9 Street was injured after jumping off the Escambia River Bridge Monday, June 25, 2024 to pursue a suspect. He fully recovered at Davis Animal Hospital Emergency Center.

ECSO K-9 Street was injured after jumping off the Escambia River Bridge Monday, June 25, 2024 to pursue a suspect. He fully recovered at Davis Animal Hospital Emergency Center.

During the chase, K-9 Streeter was used to chase the suspect who is now missing. Video shows Streeter chasing the suspect and subsequently jumping off the Escambia River Bridge during the pursuit.

“K-9 Streeter does what he’s supposed to do. He does what he’s trained to do,” Simmons said. “He’s trained to chase and apprehend bad guys no matter where they go, no matter what they do.”

Streeter sustained minor injuries during the fall and was treated at the Davis Animal Hospital Emergency Center. He will be on “desk duty” until the end of the week.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola drive-by shooting suspect who jumped from bridge missing

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