ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A man suspected in the shooting deaths of three men in a New Hampshire store told reporters he did it for the money.

Michael Woodbury, 31, spoke to reporters Thursday as officers walked him from the Oxford County jail in Maine across a parking lot to the nearby courthouse. He said the shooting victims had "busted the robbery."

When reporters asked whether he did it, Woodbury replied, "Unfortunately, I did."

Asked why, he said he "needed the money."

Police arrested Woodbury of Windham, Maine, and charged him with three counts of first-degree murder in the shootings a day earlier at the Army Barracks store in Conway, N.H.

Roger Dodd, a criminal defense attorney who's licensed to practice law in both Florida and Georgia, said a casual confession like the one Woodbury made to the media could be suppressed but that it's not likely.

"A perp walk is nothing more than a prosecutor showing off. Therefore, it should be suppressed," Dodd said.

As he watched the video, Dodd said he noticed Woodbury's hand gestures as he walked to the courthouse.

"He is doing gang sign language," Dodd said.

He said as a defense attorney he wonders to whom Woodbury was signing and what he was saying, adding it could be a key to unlocking a defense.

"Maybe somebody's intimidating him into saying the things he is," said Dodd.

The attorney said there are a dozen different scenarios that could work in favor of the defense but no matter what, but he said the attorney in Woodbury's case has a lot of work to do.

"Let me put it this way, it would be better if he didn't make the walk, didn't sign language or didn't verbalize," Dodd said.

In addition to the murder charges in New Hampshire, Glynn County, Ga., police have arrest warrants for Woodbury in the arson of a St. Simons Island home on June 12 as well as for burglary and forgery.

Glynn County detectives said one of the teens with whom Woodbury was traveling gave the man up.

"She gave us specifics as to how the fire was started, what property specifically was taken from the residence and she had actually in her possession property taken from the home," Chief Matt Doering said.

Authorities said before and after the fire was set in Georgia, Woodbury was a very busy man.

Police said Woodbury stole a car in Kentucky, committed an armed robbery in Tennessee, robbed a bank in South Carolina and torched the home in Georgia before heading to New Hampshire, where three men were killed earlier this week.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots Monday at Army Barracks store. Some people reported seeing a fleeing man wearing a light shirt and camouflage shorts.

On Tuesday morning, a witness reported seeing a possible suspect walking on railroad tracks in Fryeburg, about 10 miles east of Conway.

Store manager James Walker, 34, and customers William Jones, 25, of Walpole, Mass., and Gary Jones, 23, of Plymouth, Mass., were killed. The Joneses were not related.

Autopsy results released Tuesday showed that Walker died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head, William Jones died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and Gary Jones died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Army Barracks, a small chain, is based in Salem, Mass. The stores sell camping equipment and gear such as knives, stun guns and paintball guns but no firearms, Vice President Marilyn Brabantes said. On Tuesday, flowers and a yellow ribbon had been placed by the door to the store, along with a pair of soldier figurines.

Kenny Jones, the brother of William Jones, said William and Gary Jones were friends returning from a camping trip in Maine.

"I couldn't be happier that they have someone in custody," Kenny Jones said. "I hope it's the right person, and I hope they can make the charges stick because I want to see somebody pay for this."

In court on Thursday, Woodbury waived extradition to New Hampshire, and authorities immediately transported him back to the state. He's scheduled to be arraigned Friday on three counts of first-degree murder.

As he left the court, Woodbury criticized Maine prison officials for releasing him earlier this year, saying he had warned them he would likely commit another crime.