PPD: Suspect in Pensacola Fitness shooting taken into custody on Nine Mile Road

From Staff Reports
·2 min read
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Update 10:20 p.m.:

Kennon Nicholas Farrow, the man suspected of walking into a Pensacola gym early Tuesday morning and fatally shooting Pensacola State College math instructor Carla Williams, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday night.

Farrow, who was wanted by Pensacola police on the charge of first-degree premeditated murder, was located and arrested near the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road, according to a Pensacola Police Department News Release.

A traffic stop was made by members of the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.

There were no injuries during the traffic stop.

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A woman was shot and killed early Tuesday morning after a man walked into Pensacola Fitness on North Ninth Avenue and fired several shots at her as she was working out at the gym.

The shooting happened at 4:26 a.m. The woman, Carla Elaine Williams, 48, was struck several times and died of her injuries, according to the Pensacola Police Department.

The PPD is searching for Kennon Nicholas Farrow, 39, in connection with the shooting.

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Kennon Nicholas Farrow is wanted for first degree premeditated murder in the death of 48-year-old Carla Elaine Williams early Tuesday morning, May 24, 2022.
Kennon Nicholas Farrow is wanted for first degree premeditated murder in the death of 48-year-old Carla Elaine Williams early Tuesday morning, May 24, 2022.

According to a statement from PPD, Farrow fled the scene the morning of the incident and is wanted for first-degree premeditated murder. Police initially said he may be traveling in a gray Mercedes Benz with the Florida license plate number 154-RZU, however on Tuesday evening they noted he may have changed vehicles to a small, blue Nissan SUV.

There were several others inside the gym at the time of the shooting, but there were no other injuries reported.

By 8:30 a.m., several PPD vehicles still sat parked outside the gym, as well as personnel from the District 1 Medical Examiner's Office.

Carla Williams worked for more than 24 years at Pensacola State College.
Carla Williams worked for more than 24 years at Pensacola State College.

The gym, which sits on the corner of a shopping center, was the only segment sectioned off by police. The parking lot remained open.

Regular gym visitor Carl Calhoun, 69, said he drove up Tuesday to get the same daily workout he has been doing for over 20 years. But when he saw the police tape, he started "freaking out."

"It's just bad for the whole community," Calhoun said, adding he still plans on being a customer to the gym. "It freaks me out seeing this (expletive)."

A photo shared on a Facebook shows Carla Williams and classmates at a commencement ceremony in November 2020.
A photo shared on a Facebook shows Carla Williams and classmates at a commencement ceremony in November 2020.

The gym's owner, Bradley Taylor, declined to make a comment to the News Journal about the shooting.

The investigation into the shooting remained ongoing Tuesday.

If anyone has information on Farrow's whereabouts, please call 911. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP.

This story will be updated at new information emerges.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Woman shot and killed at Pensacola Fitness gym early this morning