Kewhaw Dernard Thompson, a 32-year-old African American male from Pensacola, Florida, was tragically shot and killed on December 16, 2020. The incident occurred at a residence in the 100-block of Concordia Boulevard in Escambia County. According to reports, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 2 p.m. and found Thompson lying facedown in a bedroom, having been shot in the chest.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was drug-related, specifically involving the synthetic drug Spice. Witnesses reported seeing Thompson arrive at the house in a vehicle, at which point he was confronted by 25-year-old Charlie Richardson Jr., who was armed with a gun. Richardson allegedly fired at Thompson as he exited his car, but missed. Thompson then ran into the house, with Richardson in pursuit. Inside, a struggle ensued over the gun, which Richardson ultimately gained control of, leading to him shooting Thompson in the chest.
Charlie Richardson Jr. was arrested the following day and charged with first-degree premeditated homicide. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. The arrest report indicated that Richardson and Thompson had a confrontation over the gun before the fatal shot was fired. The exact nature of their relationship remains unclear, but the incident was part of a broader pattern of violence and drug-related activity in the area.
The case against Richardson proceeded through the legal system, with significant attention from local law enforcement and the community. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office had previously conducted multiple search warrants at the same residence for Spice-related activities, highlighting the ongoing issues with synthetic drugs in the region. The tragic death of Kewhaw Dernard Thompson underscored the dangers associated with drug-related violence and the impact it has on the community.
