Jacoby Shad Young, 32, was fatally shot on July 8, 2023, at the Moorings Apartments on Old Spanish Trail and Olive roads in Pensacola. The shooting occurred about 8:50 p.m.; Escambia County deputies found Young shot dead when they arrived. Sheriff Chip Simmons said the shooting was not random and that Young was believed to have had a disagreement with two black males at the apartment he shared with his girlfriend. The altercation escalated to gunfire and the suspects fled; authorities had not identified or arrested any suspects as of the latest reports.

Young was described as strong-willed and passionate about football and his family. He played for the Greater Pensacola Jets and was coached and mentored by Fred Barnett for eight years. Barnett remembered him as active in community events, including park cleanups, fundraisers, and youth football camps. The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the circumstances, and the family held a vigil to celebrate his life. If anyone saw or heard anything at the Moorings Apartments the evening of July 8, 2023, that could help investigators, please come forward.