Will Isern

wisern@pnj.com

Update 1:30 p.m.: A suspect in three homicides in two counties confessed to all three murders after being taken into custody this morning, according to a news release from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, was arrested at a hunting camp outside Troy, Ala., around 5 a.m. this morning. While being interviewed by investigators, Thompson reportedly admitted to shooting Allen Johnson in Panama City on Monday afternoon and shooting Steven and Debra Zackowski in their residence of Sunday morning.

At the time of his arrest, Thompson was driving Johnson's Toyota truck and was in possession of several handguns and one assault rifle, the release said. Deputies had been seeking Thompson since Saturday morning in connection with a burglary at the Zackowski's home prior to their murder.

Thompson is waiving extradition and is expected to be transferred to the county jail in Bay County sometime today.

He is facing three open counts of murder and one count of grand theft/burglary.

Update 9 a.m.: A suspect in three Florida homicides was captured in Troy, Ala., without incident this morning, according to a Troy Police Department spokesman.

Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, was wanted in Bay County for the murder of Allen Johnson, a Panama City business owner who was shot and killed in his home Monday afternoon. Thompson was also a person of interest in deaths of a Milton couple, Steven and Debra Zackowski, who were found shot to death in their home Sunday morning.

Troy police officers located Thompson around 5 a.m. this morning. He was reportedly driving Johnson's silver Toyota, and he had several handguns and a rifle in the vehicle with him, Troy Police Department Lt. Brian Weed said.

The property where Thompson was captured reportedly belonged to an acquaintance whom Thompson had previously worked for and hunted with, Weed said. Thompson also had reportedly been an acquaintance of Johnson and had been working as a handyman for Steven Zackowski just prior to his death.

David Angier, a public information officer for 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Bay County, said that a Bay County Sheriff's Officer is en route to Alabama to serve Thompson a homicide warrant. That service will begin the process of having Thompson extradited to Florida for trial.

Angier said that because Bay County is serving its warrants before Santa Rosa County, it is likely that Thompson will be tried for Johnson's murder before facing any charges related to the Zackowskis.

In Santa Rosa County, Thompson currently has a warrant for grand theft related to the theft of several items and a vehicle from the Zackowski's residence. He has not been charged in their murders at this time.

Update, 7:35 a.m.: Reports indicate that Derrick Thompson, a suspect in three Florida homicides, has been captured without incident in Troy, Ala.

More details will be posted as they become available.

Previous story

A handyman being sought in connection with Sunday's double homicide in Milton is now being sought in connection with a third murder in Bay County.

Derrick Ray Thompson's silver Ford F-150 was found in the yard of former Bay County sheriff's investigator and nightclub owner Alan Johnson, 67, who was found dead in his house in Panama City on Monday afternoon, according to Ruth Corley with the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

Family members of Johnson had gone to his home and forced entry when they could not make contact with him. They discovered his body and called 911. It appeared Johnson had been shot, according to a release from the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

Bay County Sheriff's officials think Thompson left the scene of the homicide in Johnson's silver Toyota Tacoma, having left his own truck in Johnson's yard.

Law enforcement already was on the lookout for Thompson in connection to the murders of Steven and Debra Zackowski, 60 and 59, who were found dead in their home on Goliath Road in Milton on Sunday morning.

Prior to the murders Sunday, sheriff's deputies were called to the Zackowski home Saturday morning, after Steven Zackowski accused Thompson of stealing several items — including house keys — while in the Zackowski home, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office offense report.

According to the offense report, Steven Zackowski met with Thompson at the residence Saturday morning. Zackowski reportedly hired Thompson to help him with some electrical work, and the men sat down to discuss the details of the job because Thompson was not performing as expected.

When Zackowski went into the restroom, Thompson reportedly took Zackowski's keys and cellphone and went outside to Zackowski's vehicle, the incident report said. Outside, Thompson reportedly took seven prescription pills from a bottle in Zackowski's vehicle before fleeing the scene in his own truck.

The Zackowskis reported the alleged theft after Thompson left their home Saturday.

Deputies attempted to contact Thompson after the incident, but were unable to locate him by phone or at his residence.

Deputies received a 911 call just before 9 a.m. the following morning and found Steven and Debra Zachowski dead from gunshot wounds in their home.

Deputies think Thompson left for Bay County in his silver Ford F-150, which was found Monday at Johnson's home.

Thompson is now thought to be driving Johnson's vehicle, a silver Toyota Tacoma with tag number VY-105. Thompson is a white male, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 225 pounds.

Deputies think Thompson is likely armed.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency or Crime Stoppers at 437-7867.

timeline

» Saturday morning: Derrick Ray Thompson met with Steven Zackowski at his Milton residence to discuss Thompson's job performance on electrical work. While there, Thompson reportedly took keys, a cellphone and pills before fleeing in his truck.

» Sunday morning: Steven and Debra Zackowski were found dead in their home.

» Monday afternoon: Thompson's truck was found in the Panama City yard of Alan Johnson, who was dead in his home.