On Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 2:10 PM, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call of an active shooter situation at the Ponce De Leon Rest Area.
The Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene to find a male subject deceased and a female critically injured from gunshot wounds.
The victims, Derick Todd Thompson, Jr. and Mariah Map’s, were traveling from Pensacola to meet the suspect, Latorish Antonio Gardner, for a child exchange.
After arriving, an altercation began between Gardner and Maps, Thompson attempted to intervene and Gardner produced a weapon fatally shooting Thompson.
Mariah Maps fled on foot with Gardner shooting her and leaving her critically injured. Gardner was able to retrieve the children from the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene.
Our Communications Center sent out a BOLO for Gardner’s vehicle and he was apprehended within fifty minutes of the 911 call at a home in Marianna by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The children were safe and transported to a local hospital. Mariah Maps is expected to make a full recovery.
Gardner will be charged with an open count of murder and attempted murder. There will be other charges pending investigation.
Sheriff John Tate would like to thank Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Wildlife Commission, Bonifay Police Department, the State Attorney Office, the Department of Children and Families, the Child advocacy Center, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their assistance in this case.
