Arrest Reports Detail Cantonment Shooting That Left One Dead, Two Jailed

February 2, 2021

Arrest reports provide more details about a fatal shooting in Cantonment Monday afternoon and the arrest of two suspects.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as 35-year-old Danny Blackmon, Jr.

Investigators said Blackmon was shot by Jonathon Taylor Hobbs of Cantonment. Hobbs was charged with first degree premeditated murder. Dawn Sluder of Pensacola was charged with principal to first degree homicide.

The shooting happened about 2:10 p.m. in the 2900 block of Lawson Lane off Jacks Branch Road.

Sluder was taken into custody at a convenience store on Muscogee Road near Jacks Branch Road (pictured). Hobbs later surrendered to deputies on Country Hills Road, just east of Schifko Road. Both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

According to arrest reports obtained Tuesday by NorthEscambia.com:

There were “ongoing issues” involving Sluder and Blackmon. Sluder is the mother of Blackmon’s 19-year old girlfriend.

Blackmon and his girlfriend locked themselves in their home and call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived, Sluder and Hobbs were gone.

After deputies left the residence on Lawson Lane, Blackmon and his girlfriend left the residence and began driving toward Jacks Branch Road in a Ford F-150 pickup truck. After becoming concerned that Sluder and Hobbs may do something to their house, they turned around to return home.

While driving, they saw Sluder’s black GMC SUV come around the corner. The woman stopped her Ford F-150 and Blackmon got out and stood on the side of Lawson Lane, telling his girlfriend that they had to “do things by the books” and call police. Blackmon told Sluder and Hobbs they were trespassing and needed to leave. As Sluder started to drive away, Sluder passed her and stopped her SUV near Blackmon. Sluder ran up to Blackmon, shaking her arms and appearing to yell while Blackmon did nothing.

In her rearview mirror, the girlfriend watched as Hobbs got out of the SUV and walked toward Blackmon with a gun his hand. She stated he fired several shots while standing just a few feet away from Blackmon. After Blackmon fell to the ground, Hobbs leaned over his body and fired at least two more rounds before running away.

Sluder then jumped into her SUV, put it in reverse and slammed into the girlfriend’s Ford F-150. Blackmon’s girlfriend attempted to perform CPR, but Sluder began to beat her before being pulled away by her hair.

A male arrived on scene and pulled Sluder off Blackmon’s girlfriend. He checked Blackmon for a pulse and did not find one.

Sluder drove away.

Deputies arrived to find the Ford F150 with extensive front end damage. There were numerous shell casings in the roadway.

Investigators found Blackmon deceased with numerous gunshot wounds, including two on his upper torso, one in his neck and at least two in his head.

Sluder was apprehended at a convenience store on Muscogee Road near Jacks Branch Road. There was extensive damage to her SUV (pictured below) consistent with having collided with the Ford F-150 as stated by the witness.

Hobbs walked up to a resident on Country Hills Road and asked to use the phone. The resident called 911, and deputies responded to take Hobbs into custody without further incident.

Hobbs and Sluder requested attorneys and refused to make any statement.

Pictured; A female suspect was taken into custody on Muscogee Road following a shooting Monday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

23 Responses to “Arrest Reports Detail Cantonment Shooting That Left One Dead, Two Jailed”

  1. Shannon led on February 6th, 2021 11:12 am

    They should band all people from guns these young kids are killing kids there own age I would give him the electric chair no and ifs what’s about it he was a good person him and my sister use to date many years ago. That is so sad I think he’s a coward for shooting him and he’s differently not a man in my eyes Rest In Peace Danny I’m sorry this had to happen to u . I’m glad the cops got him good job esca

  2. Somethings missing on February 5th, 2021 9:22 am

    Something is still missing…quote: “After becoming concerned that Sluder and Hobbs may do something to their house, they turned around to return home.” -end quote. I’ve not read anywhere where Blackmon nor Crystal were fearful of “her” being taken against her will by any of her family members. Isn’t that most of us parents would do? Go get your kid and take them home? The grandparents (armed with a gun) and the mother had previously entered the home but didnt take the girl with them? The grandparents took 2 cellphones. More to this story..someone owed someone something…

  3. Kaylee on February 4th, 2021 1:23 pm

    I truly am so sorry that the girl had to watch her boyfriend get murdered, I seriously hope they get years if not life in prison, I was harassed by Jonathan several times online, he always texted me trying to “go on a date” or try to get me to come “hangout with him” after me telling him no he get butthurt and called me inappropriate names and told me “I don’t know what I’m missing out on” he would stop texting me on Facebook for a while and then message me randomly and start commenting under my pictures. He definitely made me uncomfortable. The young girl is in my heart and prayers.

  4. T on February 3rd, 2021 2:40 pm

    The amount of people on here defending Dawn and Jonathon is absolutely disgusting. Her daughter is 19, old enough to make her own decisions and told the police she WANTED to be where she was, WITH her boyfriend. And to the crowd of people claiming that Dawn “was just protecting her daughter”, I really have to laugh at that, considering she attacked her and dragged her away from her dead boyfriend by her hair. Not to mention the emotional trauma she has now inflicted upon her by murdering her boyfriend in front of her. But she’s just SUCH a good mother, right? Those two low life’s deserve to rot in prison, there is absolutely NO excuse for killing another person! My thoughts go out to Crystal and the family of Danny, I cannot imagine the pain they are all going through.

  5. Davey on February 2nd, 2021 9:59 pm

    Dawn didnt protect anything… that girl has been around danny for years. And all of a sudden 3 days ago she’s missing?? Where has DAWN been the whole Time??? She’s getting exactly what she deserves.. I love you danny

  6. Barber Hobbs Davis on February 2nd, 2021 9:05 pm

    For the record: The grandparents of Jonathon did not raise him but helped a lot because his mother was always working to support him! Yes the father was missing! This is what we should focus on! No child is a mistake they are a gift from God! Take care of your children! The male role model is crucial! He came from a great family with a lot of love and he did know right from wrong! Please pray for both families. We are all hurting. Stop the blood shed and love more❤️

  7. Ol friend on February 2nd, 2021 8:49 pm

    You will be missed my man. RIP Danny

  8. V will see on February 2nd, 2021 6:46 pm

    From the sound of the police report he didn’t sound like he was too interested in fighting one thing for sure now hopefully what you said is true because he is going where there are some real life gladiators now

  9. V on February 2nd, 2021 6:35 pm

    Sonething serious must have took place cause i know Hobbs personally an he’s a fighter not a shooter he can handle his own without a gun. Theres gotta be more to the story then is being told.

  10. Mary Mattheiss on February 2nd, 2021 5:10 pm

    I was born and raised in the Pensacola area. I love living here. Having said that it is very discouraging to read or hear that there is a violent sexual assault, a child abuse case, an armed robbery, a hit and run and even worse shootings and various murders EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. Such craziness and evil everywhere you turn. It makes me feel sad to see this happening in my hometown. In this case it sounds like terrible decisions were made on the part of everyone involved. It is a shame it had to end in murder.

  11. Old School on February 2nd, 2021 3:43 pm

    Need to go old school on these criminals. Firing squad. Your right, people do not know the entire story but the law is the law. You can’t take it into your own hands. Firing squad would get some attention. Charge the chick also for interfering with the care of the victim.

  12. Belle on February 2nd, 2021 11:38 am

    It’s sad when people don’t know what happened and what he did. I’m sorry you’re locked up for protecting your Baby Dawn!!! I love you and hope you are set free soon, You do not deserve this!!! I love you!!!

  13. Patti G on February 2nd, 2021 11:28 am

    R I P DANNY……I will miss your smiling face and your visits…… So sad

  14. Tc on February 2nd, 2021 10:45 am

    Blackmon had a nice Rap sheet himself

  15. Wee R Patriots on February 2nd, 2021 9:09 am

    I have known that kid since he was 5 years old. From NEP on thru high school, My kid played sports with him. Grandparents basically raised the kid and I am telling you they are fine people. The boy’s mom seemed fine, just never saw the kids father around, ever. These male guys that have kids and then do not stay involved with their kids need punishment. I am not taking up for the kid but dang he was just out on his own. It really surprises me he did this although he was known as a local drug user although this was not over drugs, from what I understand, I have heard this from reliable sources.
    America we have a problem with the nonexistent male figure in a broken broken home..
    My heart breaks for his grandmother, especially, and also his mother. I did not know the mom as well as the grandmother ,I feel for both of them but the grandmother is a good lady, nice respectable and gave her life to raise that kid, the grandfather was just a good ole regular grandpa like we all have, he had passed in the last few years but he was a good person.I am not coming down on the mom at this heartbreaking time but there is blame to go around for all, especially the father of Johnathan.
    God Bless the person that was shot and all families involved. I am very surprised Jonathan would do this, I really am blown away. I just do not understand this generation killing each other at a rapid pace. Jonathan was raised better than that and he knows right from wrong, My heart is heavy with all the lives he has affected, God bless them all. Just my personnel thoughts.

  16. Chrysti on February 2nd, 2021 9:04 am

    I love you soooo very very much Danny Ray Blackmon jr!! I miss you so much already I can not believe I have to go the rest of my life without u in it

  17. melsmowers on February 2nd, 2021 8:17 am

    I can remember back in the 1950s and 1960s when that area was the place to enjoy the river take your kids and spend all day folks were so nice and sweet back then. I often wonder what has become of this area ? where is the love and respect gone to.

  18. Count to Ten or Something on February 2nd, 2021 6:23 am

    People are on the edge….. Dang yal…. take a breather.

  19. Concerned Citizen on February 2nd, 2021 5:43 am

    First of all, my prayers for the victim and his family and family of friends. Being of FAITH and a TRUE BELIEVER…I pray for the suspects and their families as well.(Yes, I’m like that) We all must pull together and do our best to stop this “Old West” style mentality that’s over running our ONCE QUIET and PEACEFUL Cantonment. I do not know either side right here but I do believe I know someone that was very close to this tragic happening on that particular dirt road. @Observer, I too believe there’s more to this story, as is there in all cases like this, so I trust in time “someone” will come forward and help our LEOs get to the gristle of this one. Praying for MY COMMUNITY and it’s People…

  20. Crystal on February 1st, 2021 11:58 pm

    None of you know what really happened! Quit judging !

  21. Davey on February 1st, 2021 10:50 pm

    Hes being made out to be the bad guy… they went to his house with intent

  22. Observer on February 1st, 2021 8:38 pm

    RIP.

    There’s quite a bit missing from the story, but I am going to hold my tongue while LE does their job.

    Unsettling afternoon for the neighbors though–I heard the gunshots from my deck.

  23. Oldman on February 1st, 2021 7:11 pm

    My condolences.