CNN Wrongly Reports "Teen Takeover"

(PENSACOLA) --- The Sunday, July 6, CNN Report on a Pensacola “Teen Takeover” was false.

Pensacola Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Wood set the record straight Monday morning before the 11 a.m. press conference with Police Chief Eric Winstrom regarding the death of 19-year-old Phillip Shepherd.

(Photo: Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom at the 11 a.m. press conference via Facebook July 6)

The other six victims from the shooting are expected to make a full recovery.

“Well, first of all, CNN was inaccurate,” Wood said of the report with the matching URL  that reads “cnn.com/2026/05/09/us/teen-takeovers-explainer.”

“We never labeled this as a teen takeover,” Wood said. “A teen takeover is something we will usually be aware of because of online chatter, where there are people who organize them as to where to go and what time to go.”

That did not happen.

“We had no information on that,” Wood said of the shooting that took place after the fireworks display. “We have no reason to believe that it was an organized teen takeover.”

Wood did confirm that Chief Winstrom “mentioned teen takeovers in his first news conference, and he was referring to things that have happened in the past,” but not Saturday night’s incident.

Wood was speaking of the Cordova Mall incident in May that led to multiple arrests involving unsupervised youth.

However, that was not noted at this morning's press conference. Chief Winstrom did confirm Wood's details, that it was in fact an ongoing feud and not an organized event, which would have countered the CNN report.

“Police described a “teen takeover” that began with children as young as middle schoolers holding fireworks and escalated into an increasingly dangerous situation, as older teens and young adults filled the streets Saturday night and into Sunday morning,” CNN reports.

“I think we don't believe anything that could have been done differently would have helped,” Wood said. “This was not an active shooter; it was not a random shooting. It was a targeted shooting.”

Two people had problems with each other, saw each other, and shots were fired, Wood added.

“So this could have happened anywhere besides downtown; if those two had run into each other in other parts of the city or the county, this shooting could have taken place there,” Wood said. “It just so happens that they saw each other in downtown Pensacola and the shots were fired.”

Winstrom said at the press conference, “Regardless of what the content of the feud is, it does not justify death,” adding, “We don’t have a confirmed number of rounds,” regarding the report that only two shots were reported.

Winstrom also said the “six individuals knew each other and there could have been a cross-fire situation,” noting there were hundreds of others in the area at the time of the shooting.

The chief could not confirm it was a gang shooting, but noted that several of the victims were affiliated with gangs.

“But we can’t say for certain exactly what happened,” Winstrom said.

(Photo: Nextdoor Poll asking residents if Saturday's shooting regarding youth has them more frightened for public safety)

Before finding out the false information, OpGov.News polled locals in Springfield, asking if the tragedy had them frightened for their own safety.

While some residents reported fear, others did not. Woods said all residents should contact the police if they suspect danger.

“If you see something, say something; that's a message that we've preached for years and years,” Wood said. “Pick up the phone and call 911 and let us know if there is a suspicious person or a package or whatever the situation is; just give us a call so we can have officers come check it out.”

Winstrom confirmed that businesses that have stepped forward with footage from the evening “are helping us immensely,” especially with the “highly motivated detectives” still working the crime scene. The chief noted his contact with Shepherd's mother, noting "that talking to a grieving mother who lost her son is impossible to fix."

Mayor Reeves also spoke briefly at the press conference, revealing he is not "privy" to the full investigation but will consider a possible youth curfew in the future.

Pensacola Police Department is asking that anyone with information please get in touch with Detective Amanda Robinson at 850-436-5406 or email Sgt. Jeff Brown at jcbrown@cityofpensacola.com.

Additionally, witnesses can call Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP or use the P3Tips app to submit tips.

“No piece of information is too small,” according to the social media post. “Your assistance could provide the key evidence needed to help bring those responsible to justice.”