PANAMA CITY BEACH — Police arrested a sixth suspect Friday in connection to the shooting death of a 20-year-old Panama City Beach man.
The Panama City Beach Police Department and Bay County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigative Division arrested 34-year-old Clinton Robert Allen at his residence Thursday night. Allen was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and providing false information during the investigation into Ryan Brooks’ death at The Club apartments off Richard Jackson Boulevard early Thursday.
Allen was booked at the Bay County Jail on Friday, where four of the five other suspects are currently being held.
The five other suspects face various charges:
- Joshua Smith, 22, Panama City, first degree murder and attempted armed robbery;
- Randy Jackson, 24, Panama City, first degree murder, attempted armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm;
- Alyssa Watford, 17, Panama City, conspiracy to commit armed robbery;
- Joseph Cannizzo, 25, Panama City Beach, attempted armed robbery, tampering with evidence;
- Nicole Philbrook, 26, Panama City Beach, tampering with evidence.
Police said the slaying appears to be a drug deal gone bad. Authorities said Watford contacted Brooks to arrange to buy 2 ounces of marijuana, but Jackson and Smith intended to rob Brooks. However, investigators said, Brooks and Cannizzo planned to rob Smith when he arrived to buy the marijuana.
They met in The Club parking lot, where Cannizzo and Brooks, who were armed, tried to rob Smith, police said. Brooks then approached Jackson, who shot Brooks several times. Smith fled and Jackson drove away, while Cannizzo shot Jackson’s vehicle before also fleeing.
Allen received the gun from Joseph Cannizzo, police said in a news release, after it was used to shoot at Randy Jackson’s vehicle as he fled the scene.
Police found Brooks on the ground in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Brooks died at a hospital soon after.
Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew Whitman said no other suspects are being saught in the case at this time.
“These are the main players,” Whitman said. “We’ve got it with these six.”
News Herald Writer Jennifer Harwood contributed to this report.