Dereck Todd Thompson Jr., 35, of Pensacola, Florida, was shot and killed on May 2, 2021, at a rest stop in Ponce-de-Leon during a child custody exchange. The exchange involved Mariah Maps and Latorish Antonio Gardner. A physical altercation broke out between Maps and Gardner; Thompson, who was in the car, stepped in to break up the fight and told Maps to return to the vehicle. Gardner then produced a gun and fatally shot Thompson. Gardner also shot Maps as she tried to flee; she was critically injured and taken to Fort Walton Medical Center and was expected to recover.

Gardner fled the scene with the children but was later located at a residence in Jackson County and taken into custody by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office without incident. He was charged with murder and attempted murder. The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and authorities were gathering witness statements from those at the rest stop.

Does anyone have information about the rest stop exchange routine or witnesses who were there that day?