Sheriff investigates Navarre shooting

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Indian Drive in Navarre around 5:30 a.m. March 9 in reference to a shooting.

According to Sgt. Scott Haines, SRCSO public information officer, a subject who lives at that location had contacted a friend stating that he had been shot. The report stated that the victim, Tashan Verdell, 23, asked his friend to pick him up and drive him to the hospital and the friend contacted the sheriff’s office. When Verdell found out that his friend had contacted law enforcement, Verdell chose to drive himself to Gulf Breeze Hospital instead of waiting for law enforcement or his friend.

Deputies responded to the area of Gulf Breeze Hospital and located Verdell and his vehicle pulling into the hospital. Deputies made contact with Verdell and found that he had been shot twice. Verdell was taken inside the hospital for treatment and was then released. He told investigators that he was supposed to meet an unknown suspect in the area of Camden Drive to settle a disagreement from a few weeks prior. According to Haines, Verdell drove to that area and pulled off on the side of the road to wait for the suspect to arrive. A short time later, a small white car with black bottom trim, possibly a Toyota, drove past Verdell with multiple occupants. While the car was passing Verdell, the front passenger fired four shots at Verdell, striking him twice. The vehicle fled the area and Verdell drove to his home on Indian Drive and contacted his friend. Investigators are actively working on this case.

Anyone with information concerning the identity of the suspects is should contact Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at 437-STOP (7867) or Detective Baney at 850-983-1296.  Information provided through Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest of the suspects may result in a cash reward of up to $1,000.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.