Whitney Ln. resident recalls police shooting

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - On Whitney Dr. in Pensacola, reminders of the shooting between police and burglary suspects Desmond Phillip and Jo’Kavious Wilson remain.

The two Pensacola police officers, Patrick Bradley and Justin Roedel are on paid administrative leave. Phillip and Wilson were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds. They were arrested upon their release on Dec. 7.

Robert Caldwell says lives in the Whitney Dr. neighborhood and has one of those reminders on his own home: a bullet hole in his front bedroom window.

He said he got home right after the incident and went inside to get his dog.

“I noticed glass all over the floor. My first thought is she knocked something over but then I noticed that the glass looked like it exploded. That’s when I looked at the window and saw the hole where the bullet came through,” said Caldwell.

Authorities said patrols in the area have been stepped up since Nov. 27. There have been 21 reported residential burglaries since that time. Officials say nine of the burglaries occurred within the area of Bayou Boulevard and 12th Avenue.

Pensacola Police said two officers noticed Phillip, 20, and Wilson, 18, at the front door of a home.

Authorities said the officers identified themselves as law enforcement and told the men to stop. Instead, police say the men got into an SUV and drove at the officers, who opened fire.

Police said the suspects sped away, ditched the vehicle and fled on foot. They were caught a short time later.

Caldwell says some folks were concerned by the police firing in the neighborhood. Caldwell says he too was concerned by the gunfire, but his history in the military helps him understand the situation.

“If the car tried to run them over, their thought was probably that these people meant to do them bodily harm. If you’re thinking the way they were, their actions were probably enough for the situation,” Caldwell said. “Well, it was lucky that no one was standing in front of the window. The officers made a decision and no one was killed. Everyone came out of it alright."

Wilson and Phillip have been charged with assault on a law enforcement, burglary, vehicle theft and resisting an officer with violence.