Fatal shooting near Escambia County bar investigated as 'Stand Your Ground' case

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A shooting near an Escambia County bar Thursday night that left a man dead is being investigated as a "Stand Your Ground" case.

Family on Friday identified the man shot and killed as 41-year-old Kevin Johnson. The shooting took place around 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Speak Eazy Cigars & Spirits on Baars Street and Davis Highway.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office says investigators determined that Johnson was the aggressor and shot another man first during an altercation. The man then shot back at Johnson, ultimately killing him.

Deputies addsecurity cameras caught the shooting on video.

"One individual was trying to back up, he had his hands up in the air," Sheriff Chip Simmons said Friday, "and the aggressor came at him with a gun, fired the gun, and he himself was subsequently shot and killed."

The other man was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg. He has not been identified.

Sheriff Simmons says investigators haven't found one of the guns used, which may lead to other charges being filed.

The State Attorney's Office will now take over the investigation and rule on whether it was a "Stand Your Ground" case.

Jennifer McAlpine, Johnson's sister, says she had a drink with Johnson at the bar before the incident.

"When I got ready to leave, he'd say, 'I love you man!'" That was his words," she said. "And the crazy part about it is, I'll never hear him again."

McAlpine says the man who killed Johnson was like family.

She adds she doesn't know what lead up to the shooting, but she rushed to help him afterwards.

"He collapsed right there in front of me," McAlpine said. "I was able to hold him one last time and tell him that I love him."

James Johnson wishes there was another way to settle the argument that took his brother's life.

"What happened to the old days of getting into a fist fight, and whoever wins, you go out and drink a beer together?" he said. "And you're best friends the next day."

The bar was formerly known as Rays Soul-City.

Sheriff Simmons says the bar had a history of crime, but not in recent years until Thursday night.

The incident marks Escambia County's first deadly shooting of 2022.

This is a developing story. Check back here for more updates.