Wedgewood Community Center partially reopened; search for shooting suspect continues

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) – Three weeks have passed since investigators say three men opened fire during a dice game outside the Wedgewood Community Center, killing two people and injuring five others while sending shockwaves through the Wedgewood community.

“I was speechless. I was so shocked that this happened up here in our community,” said Gloria Lewis. “I've never heard of anything like this happening here.”

Although the three suspects were caught on video, the sheriff's office said they have not yet been able to determine their identities. In the meantime, the community center was closed while county officials worked to figure out what safety protocols were in place and what could be done better in the future. That meant people like Gloria Lewis, who participated in the Council on Aging West Florida's senior meals program, had to go without that program for a week.

“Oh, my mind was all over the place because I'm still able to do certain things for myself, so I was able to go into the kitchen to do something for myself, but there are some of us who aren't able to do that, so I was just more worried about others,” Lewis added.

The feeding program provides meals to seniors five days a week. The county was able to reopen the center last week, but only for the feeding program and the monthly Wedgewood Neighborhood Association meetings. It has brought some sense of normalcy back to the neighborhood.

“We have to keep going. Life goes on, even when these terrible things happen to us. Whatever happens, we have to keep going and that's what we're trying to do,” Lewis said.

The district says the community center will remain closed to all other activities until sufficient staff is available to operate the center.

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