Pensacola Police Officer Kills Shooting Suspect

August 22, 2012

A Pensacola Police Officer shot and killed a shooting suspect Tuesday night.

Officers responded to  a shots fired disturbance around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Attucks Court in the 1300 block of West Cervantes Street. Angela Brinson, 41, was shot during the disturbance and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police were told that two suspects were spotted fleeing the scene.

Upon arrival at Attucks Court, Officer Coy McKenna spotted Terrance Lamar Abrams, 25, running westbound on DeSoto Street between I and J streets. McKenna approached Abrams and ordered him to get onto the ground. When he did, Abrams pulled out a handgun and shot at the officer.

During an exchange of gunfire with McKenna, Abrams was struck and taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Abrams’ handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.

McKenna, who was not injured, will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard operating procedure, said Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons.

Police said Brinson may not have been the intended target of the shooting. Detectives are trying to determine if Tuesday night’s incident was related to a homicide
that occurred December 17, 2011 in the 1200 block of West Moreno Street and a shooting that occurred August 7 on West Jackson Street.

“We need (the man) to come forward for questioning because we believe additional family members may be targets in this retaliatory situation,” said Capt. David Alexander.
The name of the man is not yet being released.

Brinson was standing on her porch when she was shot multiple times during an exchange of gunfire among two to three men Tuesday night near her apartment, Alexander said. Investigators are still piecing together what happened, and the Gun Crime Response Team also has been activated, Alexander said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the officer involved shooting investigation, which also is standard operating procedure, Simmons said.

Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.

Comments

24 Responses to “Pensacola Police Officer Kills Shooting Suspect”

  1. Ron Smart on September 23rd, 2013 2:30 am

    Great Job McKenna!

  2. Benjamin McKenna on February 24th, 2013 9:28 am

    Coy Mckenna is my cousin! I’m proud of him and glad he didn’t get hurt. I would have missed my favorite cousin if he got hurt.

  3. Jesse abrams on November 15th, 2012 11:12 am

    That’s my cousin & it’s sad to say,but he was a killer & got what he deserved.

  4. Brad B on August 24th, 2012 3:36 am

    Good job Officer Mckenna!

  5. cw on August 23rd, 2012 9:12 am

    the officer did not want to shut this guy that was the last thing a officer wants to do hour prayer are with the officer and his family and the family of the guy he shot . they both will need the prayers to get though this .

  6. SHIRAN on August 23rd, 2012 1:10 am

    I’ts sad to see a life lost. If someone who knew him could have taken a stand and say, I’m not going to let these kind of people destroy my world. Help the police get these people off the street. Someone new this guy there. Speak up for your world. The officier has a critical job they do to help our lives be safe. Seems like these drive by shootings have to be drugs and no good stuff. DON’ YOU?

  7. tiredofit on August 22nd, 2012 7:47 pm

    anytime some gets shot it is bad. The cop that hadto shoot did his job. He will remember this foeever and be in his dreams. The person who shot at him got what he had coming and Idon’t beleive in an eye for an eye. I hope the cop gets off.

  8. NWFLA Linda on August 22nd, 2012 5:17 pm

    On the news, friends of the individual who chose to run and shoot at a police officer, then suffer the consequences, are firing up the “they’re killing us – we need help down here” drumbeat. Is there or is there not a shooting pretty near every night in Pensacola? How forthcoming are witnesses, victims, and others when these incidents happen when law enforcement asks for info that might lead to an arrest? An arrest that might help remove these individuals from the streets. An arrest that, in the long run, might just save someone’s life. Well, they aren’t forthcoming. No one sees anything. No one says anything. Until one of them gets shot by a police officer then they scream bloody murder. Let’s see, they want the law to catch the shooters when the shooter is from a different ‘hood. Then they don’t want law enforcement to get tough and do their job when the person with the gun might be from their ‘hood. Talk about being doomed if you do and doomed if you don’t. Law enforcement can’t win this popularity contest. I’m glad they, instead, choose to do their job as difficult as it obviously is.

  9. me on August 22nd, 2012 2:59 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with the officer. I have a family member that is also a officer at the PPD. The last thing they want to do is shoot someone. I know the department and co-workers will give him the support he needs. I also have the victims family in my thoughts and prayers, he made his own decision, but they also lost someone.

  10. Mark on August 22nd, 2012 2:42 pm

    Heck, I’m just glad we have an officer that can shoot! I’ve seen videos of shootouts between police and perps at almost point blank range, and both parties missed!!

  11. David Schwartz on August 22nd, 2012 2:07 pm

    The officer did his job, acted in self defense and defense of the citizens he was charged with protecting. Any other social commentary is meaningless and harmful.

  12. Same American on August 22nd, 2012 10:53 am

    I agree with Deb and Lou Lou, this could be difficult for officer McKenna. Taking a life, regardless of the circumstances, is tough to do. If you asked him, he’d probably tell you he would rather have cuffed the guy than have to shoot him. I’m not glad this man is dead, but he brought it on himself. Life is a terrible thing to waste. I’ll reserve my praise for officer McKenna until he returns to active duty. Only because his mind is probably in shock after this incident, and he may not feel like he deserves it. I do hope he fully recovers mentally and can continue as an officer with the PPD. When he does return, I know the force (PPD) will support him in every way they can, as should the citizens that he protects. I will praise the PPD for what seems to have been a swift response to the crime that led up to this event. I fully believe their response saved more lives.

  13. LouLou on August 22nd, 2012 8:46 am

    I feel sorry for the officer it is not easy to take anothers life even if u r defending ur own life I will keep him in prayer and with time hopefully he will be ok with it.
    Law enforcement has a heavy burden to bear tying to keep us all safe and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart. Please keep the faith all of them for with out them we all would surely perish to the criminals who mean to harm and destroy all.

  14. Deb on August 22nd, 2012 8:40 am

    I pray our Lord will grant officer McKenna peace. It is not easy to do what you have to do sometimes to keep others safe. I thank God officer McKenna was not injured. As for the shooter, it is a shame people choose this kind of life. He did force the situation. Thank you God for shielding officer McKenna from this man’s bullet.

  15. sniper on August 22nd, 2012 8:23 am

    a job well done. lets see if the county will follow suit and make an attempt to handle “shootings” like the city is doing. eye for an eye.

  16. robt55 on August 22nd, 2012 8:16 am

    Another promising young life struck down before discovering the cure to cancer, designing our next ultra high speed rail system, creating his first world renown master piece, etc, etc, etc……………..

    Goodbye Thug – even though we realize you jeapordized or lives, the lives of our loved ones, our belongings, and our right to enjoy a crime free society we will surely miss you and the drain on tax dollars you and your many offspring were sure to have been your entire time above ground. Enjoy the rot

  17. Big Red on August 22nd, 2012 8:08 am

    Good job PPD. Now I wonder who this suspects family going to blame for his fatal mistake. Let me guess; humm!! he was high or he had mental issues, or he was deaf and didn’t hear the officer tell him to drop the gun. Or it was dark and he didn’t know it was the police. One less problem for society. Again glad the officer is ok.

  18. boat captain tom on August 22nd, 2012 8:07 am

    Congrats Officer McKenna,,,,,,,I think the “City” should institute “Coy McKenna Day”
    and furnish him will all the ammunition he can carry !!!!!! Even a parade would be nice..

  19. MIKE O. on August 22nd, 2012 8:03 am

    Great job, Officer McKenna!!

  20. boat captain tom on August 22nd, 2012 7:58 am

    Congrats to Officer McKenna !!!! We should have a parade down town, declare “Coy McKenna Day”, pay him a bonus and ensure he has all the ammunition he can carry…………

  21. smokey on August 22nd, 2012 7:49 am

    One down and a bunch more to go.

  22. BW on August 22nd, 2012 7:47 am

    Officer McKenna should get a medal.

  23. FLSTCI on August 22nd, 2012 6:38 am

    The only way to take a thug off the streets and make sure they don’t do it again.

  24. 429SCJ on August 22nd, 2012 6:28 am

    May the gates swing wide, good riddance.