Sheriff wants to close drug house in Escambia County that witnessed a murder over the weekend

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is taking steps to shut down another known drug house where a murder occurred last weekend.

The incident occurred Sunday morning at a home on Talladega Trail. A woman was found dead with stab wounds, while a man was hospitalized in critical condition.

“It looks like a machete or a knife of some kind,” Sheriff Simmons said Monday.

It happened in a house that the sheriff's office knows all too well.

“About six weeks ago, we served a search warrant there,” said Sheriff Simmons. “There were 20 people inside. … When we executed the search warrant, two people had overdosed on fentanyl.”

Neighbors spoke to WEAR News after the incident on Sunday.

“I've lived on this street for 10 years and when we first moved here, it wasn't like this,” said one neighbor. “It's like everyone is moving away because we're going through what we're going through. Because nobody's doing anything about it.”

The sheriff says that is not the case.

“A search warrant requires reasonable suspicion. We can't just walk into someone's house,” he said. “We're sending our troublemaker transporter there today.”

Sheriff Simmons says he has also initiated legal action that could lead to the confiscation or demolition of the house.

“I plan to write you a letter today and tell you that I am declaring this house a nuisance and you have 10 days to remedy this situation,” he said.

Sheriff Simmons describes the house and the situation as chaos.

The neighbors agree.

“There are several houses that need to be closed,” the neighbor said. “They're running back and forth to each other's houses. … I have grandchildren moving here in November. I don't even want them to be here.”

No one has been arrested in Sunday's case yet.

Investigators are continuing to follow up on leads. The sheriff tells us that witnesses are testifying.

Authorities have not determined the identity of the woman killed or the man hospitalized.