Escambia County's indexed crime rate decreased 14 percent between 2015 and 2016. (Emma Kennedy/ekennedy@pnj.com) Wochit
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that took place early Saturday morning in West Pensacola.
Deputies responded to the 500 block of Forest Park Drive shortly after 5 a.m. and found a gunshot victim in his early 20s. It was reported that multiple shots were fired.
The man was rushed to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to survive, said Deb Henley, spokeswoman for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.
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The victim was shot inside a room at the residence. Three men — one 19-year-old and two men in their 20s — were inside the room. When deputies arrived, the victim was at the front porch of the home.
"Apparently, there were three adult males in the room, and one had fallen asleep and there was some kind of alternation that happened and the suspect shot the victim," Henley said.
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Police believe the suspect fled the scene on foot. Deputies set up a perimeter and deployed a K9 team but were not able to find the suspect.
Henly said the victim and the suspect were recent acquaintances.
"They had just met that day and hung out, and this morning this happened," she said.
The suspect is a man in his early 20 who may go by the name of "B." He walks with a limp and could be biracial, according to ECSO.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact ECSO at 850-436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP.