Latest news with #GadsdenCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legal threats may dim beloved Christmas tradition in Gadsden County
A beloved holiday tradition in Gadsden County may be going dark. After 18 years of lighting up Havana with their Christmas Spectacular at the Havana Christmas Tree Farm, the Allison family is facing legal threats from neighbors demanding they shut down their other popular display on Sandy Creek Road. Citing traffic and emergency access concerns, three nearby residents say they'll sue if the show goes on. "It's very concerning how this is all being handled," Thomas Daniel Allison told the Tallahassee Democrat in a June 2 phone interview. "We're definitely open to compromise… but it's been a difficult situation with the neighbors — a lot of verbal harassment, text messages, and social media threats." The show features seemingly endless strings of colorful lights set up in fashionable displays over homes and trees that twinkle and dance to the beat of Christmas music. Allison, the creator of the light show, said attendees are required to stay in their cars unless they are dropping off donations. The family works with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office to makes sure traffic flows smoothly. Christmas is the family's favorite holiday and they consider the light show their outreach ministry. They have expressed excitement for the annual show in regular Facebook posts with countdowns, music debuts and other updates since January, when the 2024 light show ended. Cindy Piotrowski, another neighbor speaking on behalf of the those who oppose the holiday display, told the Allisons on May 31 there could be three separate lawsuits: One against the Allisons; another against neighbors who allow set up of the show in their yard; and still another against their grandmother, Frances Rushnock, who also lives on the street and allows use of her yard. A request for comment to Piotrowski on June 2 is pending. Allison said the family is looking to find a compromise with the neighbors for a shorter schedule or a different road safety plan. He hopes they can come to an agreement by June 15. If not, the show will be only be held at the Havana Christmas Tree Farm. "This is God's show, and we do it with him at the core of all that we do, so we're just praying for him to lead us in the next steps and if that means a transition off the street over the next few years, then it does," Allison said. "I don't think it would impact us one bit. It's just more of a matter of relocating. We're just grateful to have a backup location." Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@ Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gadsden Christmas light show caught in legal crossfire with locals
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Unacceptable': Giant brawl breaks out at Gadsden County High School
A violent melee broke out at Gadsden County High School Thursday, with dozens of students brawling in an incident captured on video that left parents worried and the campus reportedly on lockdown. Gadsden County Schools Superintendent Elijah Key Jr. confirmed that the fight occurred, though he said he didn't have details. He said he was unsure about injuries but that one student was reportedly hurt. There were reports of three ambulances being called to the school. "The only thing I can really say is pretty much all the students that have been involved in that situation will be dealt with according to the code of student conduct," he said. At 3:30 p.m., the Gadsden County School District acknowledged the brawl in a Facebook post. "The Gadsden County School District is aware of the video showing a brawl at Gadsden County High School," the post stated. "This behavior will not be tolerated, and disciplinary action will be taken in strict accordance with the Code of Conduct. We fully cooperate with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office as the investigation progresses. The safety of our students is our highest priority." Important Notice:The Gadsden County School District is aware of the video showing a brawl at Gadsden County High... Posted by Gadsden County School District - Florida on Thursday, February 20, 2025 Superintendent Key, who was attending the Florida Association of District School Superintendents in Orlando, said he had just watched one of the videos of the brawl on Facebook. The videos showed numerous students involving in a massive fight, prompting numerous comments by concerned parents. "I'm a parent of two kids myself who go out there, so I totally understand their fear," Key told the Democrat in an interview. "It's unacceptable in our school community. That type of behavior is just unacceptable." Capt. Anglie Holmes, spokeswoman for the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, confirmed that the agency responded to the scene. However, she couldn't immediately provide any information. Someone posted videos of the fights on Facebook along with a warning for parents: "Check on ya kids at Gadsden high school. One just left by ambulance after a fight and another ambulance pulling up! School on lockdown I couldn't even get in!" The videos showed students screaming and shouting in the cafeteria — with some yelling in fear and others encouraging the brawlers. Students gathered around the fights, some standing on tables, trying to watch and record the violence. At one point, students can be seen pummeling one another in a massive dog pile as someone smashes a wooden stool of the top of them. A few feet over, two girls fought with one pinned to the ground and the other on top of her hitting and kicking her head into the tile floor. Surrounding students pulled her off as what appeared to be an injured girl lay on the ground hardly moving. A sheriff's deputy is seen later in the video breaking up the crowd with another adult. This is a developing story. Check back for details. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@ or 850-599-2180. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Giant brawl breaks out at Gadsden County, Florida, High School
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Gadsden County Sheriff's Office identifies 'monster' who shot five people and killed two
Authorities have identified the man who shot five people, killing two and injuring a deputy, in a horrific incident last week that spanned several counties in North Florida and led to a massive manhunt by police. Gadsden County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Morris Young identified the killer as Dominic Caroway, a 44-year-old man from Avondale, Arizona. 'Dominic appears to have committed his heinous crimes as a 'lone wolf' (criminal acting alone and independent of others with no known affiliations),' the Sheriff's Office said in a Monday Facebook post. The Sheriff's Office said his identity was confirmed through biometric identification, AFIS, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, facial recognition technology and state of Arizona motor vehicle databases. 'Sheriff Young stated that the monster got what he deserved after taking the lives of innocent people and injuring three others,' the Sheriff's Office said in the post. He added that 'this type of criminal behavior has to stop' and with the help of federal, state and local law enforcement, it 'will be stopped.' 'Sheriff Young stated that criminal behavior of this nature can send shock waves of fear into a small community like Gadsden,' the Sheriff's Office said.. Lastly, Sheriff Young stated that no one should or will have to live in fear while living, visiting or working in Gadsden!!" The man robbed the Mobil Gas Station and Food Mart on Friday afternoon, shooting four people, killing the cashier, Laura Darley, and a beer distributor, Julian Green of Tallahassee, and injuring two customers outside. He fled the scene, prompting a multi-agency manhunt by state and local law enforcement agencies. After fleeing the scene, he led deputies, state troopers and other agencies on a chase early Saturday that ended with a crash in Suwannee County. After shooting and injuring a deputy and running away, he was killed in a confrontation with Live Oak police. Little is known about Caroway, who appears to have a low profile online. "We call him the mystery man, because we really don't know who he is," Young said Monday during a visit to Suwannee County. Law enforcement officials, including Young, and state officials gathered Monday at the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office to honor Deputy Justin Dalton, who was shot in the foot during the incident. Dalton, who was using crutches to walk, was presented with the U.S. flag that was flying over the state Capitol at the time of the shooting. State Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, and state Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, both participated in the ceremony. Simon urged people not to forget about the victims in Gadsden County who "won't get a chance to hug their loved ones again." He and Shoaf both praised law enforcement. "As a father, I think about it, my kids could have been at that gas station or they could have been on the interstate or they could have been at the place where it ended," Shoaf said. "Everybody else runs away. You run toward it. So thank you." Dalton thanked fellow officers who responded to the incident and officials who attended the ceremony. "Thank you all for everybody coming today," Dalton said. "I appreciate it. It means a lot to me and my family." Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@ or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gadsden County sheriff IDs 'monster' who shot 5 people and killed 2
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Massive manhunt' ends in suspect's death after 5 shot, 2 killed, deputy injured
9:03 a.m. update: The suspect who allegedly shot five people, killing two and wounding a deputy, was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement, according to the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office. "Suspect has been killed during an exchange of gunfire with SWAT in Columbia County!" the Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. "Let's pray for the victims and the healing for their families during this tragic time!" The Sheriff's Office told the public to "standby for more" information. Earlier update: A massive, multi-agency manhunt is underway after a man allegedly went on a bloody rampage, shooting four people, two fatally, during a gas station robbery in Gadsden County before fleeing the area and later shooting and injuring a Suwannee County deputy. The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office said early Friday that the agency and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were investigating an armed robbery that happened at the Mobile gas station at 3749 Pat Thomas Parkway. 'As a result of the robbery, four victims were shot and two victims succumbed to their injuries,' the Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post around 12:30 a.m. Friday. Seven hours later, the Sheriff's Office said that the suspect's vehicle was spotted in Columbia County, prompting a pursuit that included the Florida Highway Patrol. 'A pursuit by FHP, Columbia and Suwannee Co Sheriff's offices led to the driver crashing,' the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office said in its update. 'The driver then fired on the officers striking a Suwannee County deputy. The deputy, who was wearing body armor, suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening, the Sheriff's Office said. 'The suspect fled on foot and is now the target of a massive manhunt involving the FHP, GCSO, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Columbia Co, Suwannee Co and FDLE,' the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office said. In Suwannee County, the Sheriff's Office urged all residents who live around U.S. Highway 90 west, east of 129th Street and north of the highway, to shelter in place and lock their doors. 'Please avoid the area,' the Sheriff's Office said. 'US 90 West is closed between 133rd Road and Goldkist Blvd for the foreseeable future.' In a 6:30 a.m. update on Facebook, the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office said the suspect fired on two of its deputies, striking one. "Our deputy was shot but is OK," the Sheriff's Office said. The suspect we are chasing is suspected of shooting 4 people during a Robbery in Gadsden County, killing two," the Sheriff's Office said. "We have a massive law enforcement response in the area containing him and apprehend him." The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office described the suspect as a black man wearing a dark top and black pants and carrying a black backpack and at least one handgun. The Gadsden Sheriff's Office released an image of the suspect and the suspect's vehicle, a light-colored SUV. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator DeLeon at the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office at 850-627-9233 or the anonymous Big Bend Crime Solvers line at 850-574-8477. Check back with for more on this breaking story. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@ or 850-599-2180. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Manhunt in Florida: Suspect killed after shooting rampage; deputy shot
