PANAMA CITY — A woman with ties to a Panama City Beach drug deal turned deadly has agreed to testify during the accused shooter’s trial next week, according to Bay County court documents.
Alyssa Watford, 18, pleaded no contest to conspiring to rob 20-year-old Ryan Brooks for about 2 ounces of marijuana in July before gunfire broke out, ending Brooks’ life. In exchange for testifying truthfully during the trial of 24-year-old Randy Jackson, who has been identified as the triggerman, Watford could receive four years of drug offender probation.
Jury selection for Jackson’s manslaughter trial is scheduled to begin Monday. He also faces charges of attempted robbery with a firearm, felony possession of a firearm, third-degree felony murder with a firearm and attempted sale of cannabis.
Watford was one of six suspects arrested in connection with the shooting and the fourth to agree to testify against Jackson. Joshua Heath Smith, 23, already agreed to tell jurors how he and Jackson allegedly armed themselves and formulated the robbery plot.
Three survivors of the July 10 shooting at the Club Apartments, at 325 Richard Jackson Blvd., allegedly tried to cover their tracks and were arrested, according to police records.
Joseph Cannizzo, 26, initially portrayed himself as a witness when police arrived at about 1 a.m. to find Brooks face down on the asphalt with multiple gunshot wounds. Cannizzo said he pulled into the apartments shortly after the gunfire. He saw a white Kia Forte speed away and a person running into the woods north of the lot before flagging down a taxi to call 911, he told police.
However, that isn’t how Smith has sworn the shooting transpired.
Cannizzo and Brooks allegedly waited in a green SUV in the Club parking lot for Smith to conduct the deal for about 2 ounces of marijuana. Smith’s girlfriend, Watford, previously had dated Brooks and arranged the transaction between the two, according to Smith’s sworn testimony.
Smith and Jackson allegedly discussed beforehand how they would show up armed and get the drop on Brooks, Smith said, but they didn’t anticipate the people they planned to ambush also would be aiming to rob them, according to officials.
Jackson waited behind in the deeply tinted Kia Forte as Smith brought the money into Brooks’ green SUV. Cannizzo allegedly drew a gun on Smith — ordering Smith to drop his pants, where his gun was stored. Brooks then stepped out and walked over to search the Kia, Smith said.
Neither Brooks nor Cannizzo knew Jackson was in the car, Smith said, until several flashes lit the interior and gunfire roared from within.
Smith fled on foot through the woods as Cannizzo ran over to his injured friend, firing on the Kia as it sped off, police reported. Brooks would die face down on the asphalt shortly thereafter as helicopters began circling in the night sky and authorities started piecing together the brutal crime scene.
Most of the people involved before and after the shooting have agreed to testify.
Clinton Robert Allen, 34, who accepted the alleged murder weapon from Jackson, has pleaded and received four years of probation in exchange for testifying truthfully in the case. Nichole Philbrook, 26, has pleaded and been sentenced to three years probation for tampering with physical evidence and attempting to cover up for Cannizzo, her boyfriend.
Cannizzo has since been involved in an out-of-state car wreck and suffered neck and brain injuries. His plea offer was extended until he is healthy enough to appear in court.
Smith’s plea agreement calls for 10 years in prison for being a principal to third-degree murder with a firearm, but he will await sentencing in January as insurance he does not back out of his testimony, according to court documents.
Prosecutors initially offered Jackson 25 years in prison in exchange for a no contest plea. However, that agreement was revoked after a jailhouse letter from Jackson to Smith came to light.
Jurors are scheduled to be selected for the trial Monday.