Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, was arrested at a hunting lodge in
He was wanted in the slaying of former Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) investigator and controversial nightclub owner Allen Johnson, 67, after an early morning robbery and shooting Monday at Johnson’s home near Lynn Haven. Johnson and Thompson were friends, authorities said.
Thompson also was a person of interest in the
Authorities mobilized a nationwide manhunt Monday that ended in an outright confession to all three slayings, authorities said.
Thompson has been charged with an open count of murder in
Thompson’s motive in the slayings was clear to Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen: “Drugs,” he said.
“He went to borrow money from Allen,” McKeithen said. “… We think the same situation transpired in
Before fleeing the state to hide out in a Troy hunting lodge where he once had installed electrical fixtures, Thompson used money and a cellphone he allegedly stole from Johnson to buy numerous prescription narcotics from someone in
A truck connected to the
Late Monday a citizen in
“They waited until daylight because he was armed and dangerous,” McKeithen said.
Officers spotted the vehicle driving up to the gate to leave just before daybreak. When Thompson got out to unlock the gate, they ambushed him with flash-bang grenades and took him into custody without incident.
Thompson had several firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle and handguns, in the vehicle with him, authorities reported.
Law enforcement from Bay and
Thompson was wanted on a warrant for grand theft of several items and a vehicle from the Zackowskis’ residence. Deputies were called to the Zackowskis’ home Saturday, after Steven Zackowski accused Thompson of stealing items, which included house keys, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office offense report.
Thompson previously had been hired to do some electrical work at the Zackowskis’ home, local authorities reported.
Fleeing
The shooting of the Zakowskis sent Thompson on a frantic dash for shelter and resources, investigators said.
Thompson fled
On Monday, Thompson used a borrowed phone from the motel clerk and called Johnson to ask if he could come to his home on
“They were actually friends,” McKeithen said. Johnson “had no idea he was wanted for the murders and invited him to his home.”
Thompson arrived at Johnson’s home, located on
Deputies said they found a check for $500, signed over to Thompson from Johnson and dated July 21, at the scene of the fatal shooting.
Johnson was a deputy with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office from 1974 to 1988, working as a confidential informant prior to becoming a law enforcement officer. Johnson was the first to work undercover in drug enforcement for BCSO and was recognized across the state as one of the best narcotics officers, according to BCSO spokeswoman Ruth Corley.
McKeithen worked alongside Johnson before he left law enforcement in 1988 to open controversial adult entertainment establishments Show ‘n’ Tail and Toy Box.
“The most intriguing thing he said after he left was that he was left in ‘no man’s land,’ “ McKeithen said. “All the drug dealers out there still thought he was law enforcement and all the officers thought he was a criminal.”
Thompson was extradited to
After Thompson’s first appearances in court today, the State Attorney’s Office for the 1st and 14th judicial circuits will work together to determine which homicide case will be tried first.
Read the Troy Messenger's coverage here.
An earlier version of this story is posted below:
TROY, Ala. — The man wanted in connection with three homicides has been captured without incident in Alabama and confessed to all three crimes, authorities reported Tuesday.
Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, was captured without incident in Troy, Ala., early Tuesday, according to the Bay County Sheriff's Office. He was wanted on a warrant for the slaying of nightclub owner Allen Johnson and a person of interest in the Milton deaths of 60-year-old Steven Zackowski and 59-year-old Debra Zackowski.
Deputies were en route early Tuesday to serve Thompson with a homicide warrant and begin the process for extraditing him to Florida, said Bay County State Attorney's Office spokesman David Angier.
Authorities issued a nationwide alert for Thompson and Johnson's truck after Johnson was found shot to death Monday in his home behind the Bay County Sheriff's Office. Santa Rosa County authorities say the bodies of Zackowskis were discovered fatally shot Sunday in their home.
Thompson was driving Johnson's truck, and he had several handguns and a rifle in the vehicle with him, Troy Police Department Lt. Brian Weed told the Pensacola News Journal. He was captured at a property owned by an acquaintance, Weed said.
Thompson also was wanted on a warrant for grand theft related to the theft of several items and a vehicle from the Zackowskis' residence. Although he had not been charged yet in the Zackowskis' slayings early Thompson, he later confessed to killing the Zackowskis as well as Johnson, according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Bob Johnson. Santa Rosa authorities were preparing charges for Thompson midday Tuesday.
Deputies were called to the Zackowskis' home Saturday, after Steven Zackowski accused Thompson of stealing several items including house keys, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office offense report.
Thompson had been hired to do some electrical work at the Zackowskis' home, according to authorities.
Johnson and Thompson were acquaintances, Bay County authorities said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
Check back throughout the day for updates to this story.
