Kirby Ladell Rich, a 29-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, tragically lost his life on August 23, 2017. The incident occurred in the area of West Mallory Street and North Pace Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. Rich was shot and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The circumstances surrounding his death were initially unclear, but further investigation revealed that the shooting might have been drug-related.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office quickly identified a suspect in the case. Myron Lebaron Dale, 25, was charged with premeditated murder in connection with Rich's death. Dale was also injured in the shooting and received treatment at a local hospital before being booked into the Escambia County Jail. According to reports, both Rich and Dale had been involved in a confrontation on Facebook earlier that day, which escalated into the fatal shooting. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing Dale arrive in a Dodge Charger and argue with Rich before the gunfire erupted.
The investigation into Kirby Rich's death revealed that both men had exchanged threatening messages on social media prior to the incident. Dale had posted about "it going down" and people "snitching" on him, while Rich had mentioned carrying an AK-47 for protection. These posts indicated a brewing conflict that ultimately led to the tragic event. Witnesses also reported seeing Dale with a firearm similar to the one used in the shooting.
Following the incident, Dale was held without bond and faced a court appearance scheduled for September 15, 2017. The case highlighted the dangers of social media confrontations escalating into real-world violence and underscored the ongoing issues of drug-related crime in the Pensacola area. The community mourned the loss of Kirby Rich, while the legal proceedings against Myron Dale continued to unfold.
