Daytona Beach, Florida — Two members of the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) were involved in a shooting this morning (May 25, 2020) while investigating an armed carjacking call. The officer and sergeant who used their handguns in that incident are now on paid administrative leave as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigates. This is standard in officer-involved shootings. Both responded to the Wawa on 120 South Ridgewood Avenue soon after Volusia County emergency dispatchers received a call for help at 8:08 a.m. It all started at the Popeye’s restaurant near Wawa (101 North Ridgewood Avenue) when a man allegedly attempted to carjack a woman who works there.
The victim fought her way free, fled the scene towards Wawa and called for police from there. When the officer arrived on scene, he spotted a man on the north side of the Wawa parking lot on foot and armed with a rifle. He ordered that man to put the weapon down numerous times and fired when that man pointed the rifle at the officer. The sergeant arrived on scene as the first shots were fired by the officer. He drew his weapon and fired at the suspect until he fell to the ground. In total, six shots were fired by the officer and the sergeant. The Police department is still investigating to see if the suspect fired his weapon. Paramedics took the suspect to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment after officers placed him in handcuffs.
He underwent surgery and is expected to recover from his injuries, according to DBPD Chief Craig Capri. “I’m very proud of my officers, the way they acted today. They were very professional. They did their jobs,” Capri said to media at the scene. “It’s unfortunate that someone had to be shot in this incident, but we didn’t start this. The suspect escalated this incident. We tried to deescalate.” The officer and sergeant involved were not injured in this incident. Neither was the woman who called for assistance or any of the other responding officers. The identities of the officers and suspect involved are not available currently as the investigation is active and ongoing.
