UPDATED: One dead in Beacon Hill stabbing

An early morning stabbing in Beacon Hill has left one man dead and another critically injured.

At 1 a.m. Friday morning, Gulf County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a distress call at 9136 Tulip Avenue, where a large party was in swing.

Deputies found two young men, 21-year-old Conner B. Johnson and 19-year-old Edward Lee Pack, lying in the yard with stab wounds to the chest.

The suspect, 20-year-old Dustin Edward Roleson, had fled the scene, trailed by party goers, who tackled him until deputies arrived.

Deputies recovered a hunting knife with a six-inch blade in Roleson's possession.

Gulf County Sheriff's Office Major Bobby Plair confirmed that Johnson was taken to Bay Medical Center and pronounced dead upon arrival.

Pack remains in critical condition at Bay Medical Center.

In his first appearance before County Judge Fred Whitten this morning, Roleson was charged with an open count of murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

According to Plair, Roleson, held without bond at the Gulf County Jail, is an Arkansas native who has been living in St. Joe Beach.

Johnson, Pack and Roleson all attended Port St. Joe High School. Roleson had a history of behavior problems at the school and was transferred to Gulf Academy his senior year.

The cause of the fight is still under investigation. The Sheriff's Office awaits lab reports to determine whether the incident was alcohol or drug related.