Pensacola shooting of 7 people was result of 'years-long feud'

Roughly 36 hours after a Downtown Pensacola shooting left six injured and a 19-year-old man dead, police Chief Eric Winstrom said Monday the shooting may have been gang related.

After Winstrom disclosed that 19-year-old Phillip Sheppard Jr. was fatally shot July 5, he said that many of the individuals involved in the targeted shooting have affiliations with local gangs.

"We know that multiple of these individuals have gang connections, (but we're) not prepared to say these are gang members," Winstrom said at the July 6 press conference. "We know there are feuds going back years, gang-related feuds, that six of these individuals were known to each other."

Winstrom also said one of the gunshot victims was "not known" to any of the other individuals and was likely hit by a stray bullet. Five of the six people hospitalized July 5 have since been released, and the final victim is no longer facing life-threatening injuries, according to Winstrom.

No arrests have been made.

"This is a years-long feud," Winstrom said. "Regardless of what the content of this feud is, which the detectives are looking in to, obviously I don't think it's going to be anything that you or I or members of the public think would justify the death of a 19-year-old man who had his whole life ahead of him."

Winstrom said that damage from the bullets indicates there was crossfire between two groups of people.

At least two weapons were determined to have been fire during the shooting.

At least two individuals could be criminally charged after shooting

Although the investigation remains ongoing, Winstrom said there are at least two presumptive suspects who could be criminally charged after investigators discovered there were at least two guns that were fired during the shooting.

"Now that we know there were a minimum of two weapons fired, that number is a minimum of two individuals," Winstrom said, speaking of the number of people who could be charged in the incident, "and that certainly could be more as the detectives piece this all together."

Winstrom said, with the shooting happening just 36 hours ago, it would be unlikely for the investigators to determine a precise number of shooters and suspects based on the expansive crime scene that spanned "blocks long."

PPD used new medical kits intended for shooting victims at the scene

Pensacola police spokesperson Mike Wood told the News Journal that the responding PPD officers July 5 used their new medical kits they received during the department's emergency medicine active threat training.

The kits, gifted by the University of Miami Gordon Center and paid for by the Florida legislature, contain emergency medical tools such as gauze bandages and tourniquets and can attach to an officer's gun belt to allow hands-free access.

The Gordon Center helped the PPD put on the training where officers entered an active shooter simulation in which multiple gunshot victims needed various kinds of medical attention, and the officers were able to get acquainted with their new medical bags.

ATF working with Pensacola police to investigate shooting

Although Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons and Milton Police Chief Jennifer Frank reached out to the PPD to offer their services, Winstrom said so far their investigators have been able to handle the complexities and long hours associated with the case despite the "yawns in the office."

"I am thankful for all the offers," Winstrom said.

Winstrom did say he has had discussions involving federal law enforcement and other federal partners to help hasten the gathering and analysis of forensic data due to the crime scene being so large.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working the the PPD on the case, according to Winstrom who said they "stepped up to help."

Benjamin Johnson is the breaking news, crime and military reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He covers local law enforcement, courts, breaking news and military within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola shooting of 7 people was result of 'years-long feud'

Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal

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This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 2:23 PM.