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Four Years Since Escambia Jail Explosion Killed 2, Injured 184
May 1, 2018
Four years ago today, Escambia County residents woke to the news that there has been an explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility on West Leonard Street.
Two people — Robert Earl Simmons, age 54 of Railroad Street in McDavid and David Paul Weinstein, age 45 — were killed in the explosion. Both men were found dead surrounded by debris in the same part of the jail.
There were 184 reported injuries, including correctional officers and inmates. About 600 inmates were inside when the explosion that was caused by a gas leak during the historic floods in April 2014.
Now, plans are moving forward for a new jail at the corner of Pace Boulevard and Fairfield Drive; it is expected to take about 18 months to complete. The facility damaged in the explosion will be demolished as early as October.
Pictured; The first media published photos from scene of the April 30, 2014, explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility on West Leonard Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Four Years Since Escambia Jail Explosion Killed 2, Injured 184”
David Paul Weinstein , rest in power I miss and love u dearly. You changed so many lives he was a great man hard working the best father and friend. Words could never explain just how amazing you were . I owe you who I am today so many of us do thank you for changing my life I love you , Glorie
That was my uncle that passed away that day Robert Earl Simmons it’s been 4 long years without you hear I love you and miss you man, you were my best friend my favorite uncle just wished you had more time here. I’ll be there soon unc.
@Resident umm nope. they are building the jail on PACE and Fairfield where they are tearing down the strip mall, behind the OLD jail.
I hope they make the defunct destroyed jail a parking lot for the visitation.
@Nando
Get your facts straight before you type publicly. Morgan had no control over the jail when the explosion took place. It was and still is being ran by the BOCC.
let me get this .. prisoners smell gas ..gas company say no leaks ..morgans boys find no problems .. jail blows up ..TAXPAYERS PAY THE BILLS ..morgans boys want raise for doing a good job,,, MORGAN NEEDS TO GO
See a fence and some construction trailer offices and one crane on the “New Jail” property that’s been there a few days.
Cannot understand why the Commissioner for that area has not made the few businesses close up and move and demo all the buildings.
There’s much to be done and to have a Certified Jail must satisfy a whole list of Government and Social Agencies.
Building a jail isn’t like building a Federal Courthouse downtown – this is serious business and will take a couple or more years.
Good luck with the work and God Bless all involved in the construction.
@Question
They are building a jail there.
I wonder if it will take our esteemed county commission another four years of planning to get a new one built?
I remember that flood quite well. There was so much rain!
Does anyone know what the plans are for the old jail site?