Suspects in home invasion remain at large

Two Pensacola men are in custody, and three others remain at large following an armed invasion of a Birmingham Drive home in Navarre Wednesday.

Joshua Anthony Gerard, 17, of the 1100 Block of E. Lee St. in Pensacola, was arrested on charges of home invasion with a firearm, a first-degree felony.

Also arrested was Armani Dante Costen, 17, of the 6400 Block of Belview Pines Drive in Pensacola, on charges of battery – a first-degree misdemeanor, and home invasion with a firearm – a first-degree felony.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies were called to 3109 Birmingham Drive at 4:45 on July 13, for a reported home invasion.

The homeowner was able to flee the residence and called 911.

The homeowner told deputies that they could still see the five intruders, some with handguns, yelling at the remaining occupants to get on the ground.

At least one shot was fired, according to a press release issued by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived at the home within four minutes.
While the four other suspects fled – two by car, two by foot – Costen remained in the home.

Two suspects were found in a car on Stillwater Cove, then later fled on foot. Gerard, however, was caught.

Deputies set up a perimeter to catch the remaining three suspects. Numerous agencies responded to assist, including the Escambia County Marshal Taskforce, Florida Highway Patrol, Santa Rosa County SWAT, Santa Rosa County K-9, as well as 25 deputies from the SRSO.

The homeowner told deputies that while in their home, a knock was heard at the door at approximately 4:15 p.m. Three unknown black males asked if a person named James lived at the home.

The homeowner replied ‘no,’ and the males left.

Five minutes later, according to the homeowner, the three males returned and forced their way into the home. Gerard was station at the suspects’ car just outside the home.

The suspects shoved one woman holding her baby to the ground, waving a pistol at her in a threatening manner.

Costen told police that he and the other suspects demanded money and food.

One woman went to the refrigerator and grabbed some food, and one suspect yelled at her that he did not want that. The suspect was angered and fired one shot toward the woman, which did not strike her and instead, hit the microwave to the left of her.

Three other male victims in the home attempted to charge the suspects, who then fled.

Both Gerard and Costen were students at Washington High School.

No one was injured.

Read the initial Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office press release here.