PANAMA CITY — One of the men allegedly involved in a drug deal-turned-shootout pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he played a role in the death of a 20-year-old Panama City Beach man.
Randy Trebor Jackson, 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including third-degree murder, after Panama City Beach Police arrived at the Club Apartments, 325 Richard Jackson Blvd., to reports of a shooting at about 1 a.m. on July 10. Once there, officers found the body of 20-year-old Ryan Brooks face down on the asphalt with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported Brooks to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead 35 minutes later.
Investigators spent the following day piecing together the night’s events before determining the fallout was a drug deal gone wrong, in which both sides were armed and prepared to rob the other. Jackson was later arrested on additional charges of attempted robbery with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Joshua Heath Smith, 23, who also faces third-degree murder charges, has not filed a plea and was scheduled for a pretrial hearing Friday. Smith is also accused of attempted armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. He has told authorities Jackson provided him with the gun.
Joseph Michael Cannizzo, 25, was allegedly on Brooks’ side during the fracas and is charged with attempted armed robbery and tampering with evidence. Cannizzo has not filed a plea and was scheduled for a pretrial conference Sept. 10.
Jackson’s pretrial conference is scheduled for the same date.