Crime
Century FL Shooting: Teen Faces Adult Court in Fatal Showalter Park Case
Keyunta Ewing, a 16-year-old Century resident, has been transferred to adult court in Escambia County on first-degree felony murder charges following an August shooting at Showalter Park that left one man dead and another injured.
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CENTURY, Fla. — Prosecutors will try a 16-year-old suspect as an adult following a fatal Century FL shooting at a local park. Judicial officials confirmed the decision this week.
Authorities transferred Keyunta Iveon “Baby K” Ewing, a resident of Mayo Street in Century, into the adult criminal justice system. Following the transfer, an Escambia County judge ordered Ewing held without bond at the county jail. Therefore, Ewing will remain in custody pending his formal adult arraignment on September 11.
Prosecutors filed an Escambia County murder charge against Ewing for first-degree felony murder without premeditation. The charge stems from the August 13 fatal shooting of Adarius Da’Shun Odom at Showalter Park. Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille confirmed the decision to direct-file the case into adult court.
Investigation Into the Showalter Park Shooting
The deadly confrontation unfolded on the evening of August 13. At around 6:53 p.m., Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) deputies responded to Showalter Park at 7890 Kelly Field Road in Century. Emergency callers reported multiple gunshots at the scene.
Deputies arrived and found Odom lying unresponsive behind a white four-door Kia sedan. Friends affectionately knew the 20-something victim as “Daily.” The car sat parked between the ball field and the playground. Escambia County Emergency Medical Services quickly initiated life-saving measures. However, paramedics pronounced Odom dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to his neck and chest.
Meanwhile, gunfire wounded a second victim, identified as Da’Quan “Money” Johnson. Johnson, also in his 20s, suffered a through-and-through gunshot wound to his leg. First responders transported Johnson across county lines to Jay Hospital in Santa Rosa County for emergency medical care.
The gunfire triggered immediate panic across the area. No organized games took place on the Showalter Park diamond at that moment. However, youth practices were underway across a wooded trail at neighboring Anthony Pleasant Park. Century Blackcats Youth Football and Cheerleading coaches reacted quickly. They evacuated dozens of children and families from the fields to protect them.
Conflicting Accounts and Robbery Allegations
Century Teen Adult Court Transfer Follows Investigation
Following an extensive eight-day search, Keyunta Ewing surrendered to authorities on Friday night, August 21. He turned himself in at the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Pensacola.
During court proceedings, Ewing raised a self-defense claim. He asserted that he fired only because Odom was about to shoot someone else. According to arrest affidavits, Ewing told investigators he went to Showalter Park to watch a prearranged fistfight. Ewing claimed that after the fight ended, Odom reached into his waistband and made a verbal threat. Then, Ewing said he ran toward the tree line as gunshots erupted behind him.
However, investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office uncovered a sharply different story. Multiple witnesses identified Ewing as the sole shooter. They reported that Ewing approached Odom, demanded money, and shot Odom at close range during the attempted robbery. In addition, officials noted that video footage and physical evidence contradict Ewing’s self-defense claims.
Law Enforcement Demands Accountability
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons addressed the brazen violence in a public recreation area. He emphasized that the community will not tolerate violent behavior.
“Seven or eight people had gathered around for a fist fight, and after that fight someone left from the crowd and they pulled a gun and just fired several times into our victim, ultimately killing him and injuring another,” Sheriff Simmons said. “It’s certainly tragic that an individual would be killed, and it’s certainly concerning the individual that is involved felt the need to take this type of action and not have any concern about the safety of the other individual that was shot in the leg or anyone that might be nearby. We as a community should say that’s unacceptable.”
Why it matters here
This transfer highlights the commitment of local prosecutors to hold violent offenders accountable. Prosecutors direct-file serious felony cases to protect neighborhood safety across Century, Cantonment, Molino, and Escambia County. Violent crimes in shared public parks deeply concern local families.
Also, Showalter Park and Anthony Pleasant Park serve as vital recreation spaces. The incident forced youth coaches to rush young athletes away from danger. Therefore, the case highlights the immediate risk illegal firearm violence poses to innocent bystanders.
Background and Community Ties
The tragedy resonated across Escambia County and southern Alabama. Both victims, Adarius Odom and Da’Quan Johnson, maintained strong roots in the area. For example, both men played for the 2018 Flomaton High School Hurricanes football team, which won an Alabama state championship.
Meanwhile, Ewing remains in custody without bond at the Escambia County Jail. Prosecutors continue preparations for his formal adult arraignment on September 11.
Sources
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
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