Tabius Cardell Huff, a 31-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, was tragically shot and killed on June 22, 2014. The incident occurred outside the Happy Shoppers Mart convenience store on West Jackson Street around 10 p.m. Huff was found at the scene and declared dead shortly after. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were initially unclear, but investigators later suggested that the incident appeared to be drug-related. Surveillance footage from the store captured an unidentified male suspect with short, black dreadlocks, wearing a blue checkered shirt and khaki pants, around the time of the shooting.
In the aftermath of Huff's death, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office launched an extensive investigation. Trent Demetrius Baker, 28, was arrested late on June 23, 2014, and charged with third-degree felony murder in connection with the shooting. Baker was also charged with possession of heroin and marijuana with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was held in the Escambia County Jail without bond. Additionally, authorities issued warrants for two other suspects: Jarrod Cordero Blackmon, 23, who was wanted for first-degree premeditated murder, and Jimmy Jermaine Bonner, 27, who was wanted for third-degree felony murder.
The investigation revealed that Huff's death was part of a broader pattern of violence in the area, with several other homicides occurring in Escambia County around the same time. Huff's murder marked the seventh homicide in the county for the year 2014. Despite the arrests, the case remained complex, with ongoing efforts to locate and apprehend the remaining suspects. The community was urged to provide any information that could assist in the investigation, highlighting the collaborative effort between law enforcement and the public to address the surge in violent crime.
