VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – One person was killed and a Daytona Beach police officer was injured in a shooting on Saturday, according to police.
The incident happened in the area of 1629 Espanola Avenue, police said.
Daytona Beach police Chief Craig Capri told reporters they were called out to an apartment complex after an anonymous tip that a suspect wanted for attempted murder was located there.
“The suspect fled into a back bedroom,” Capri said. “The officers follow the suspect, ordering him to freeze, halt, surrender. As the officer opened the door, the suspect took a firearm and shot at our officers.”
Police said the officer who was shot will be OK because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, while the suspect died.
Capri said they were serving an arrest warrant after the man shot a woman twice in the back two weeks ago.
According to investigators, another officer tripped when shots were fired and hit his head, but is expected to be OK.
Extremely grateful that both @DaytonaBchPD officers that were injured during today’s shooting will not only survive but are expected to fully recover. The good Lord covered them with his grace and mercy today. 🙏🏾 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Deputy Chief Jakari Young (@ChiefJakari) August 30, 2020
“He was on the run,” Capri said. “So this was not a nice person. He’s a criminal.”
That man’s family tells a different story.
“My cousin, he’s lovable,” Victoria Williams said.
Police have not identified the suspect while next of kin are still being notified, however, family members told News 6 in detail about the man who died.
“He brings all of us joy every time he came around,” Williams said. “For this to happen to him, it’s sad.”
His family obtained cellphone video capturing the encounter and said from what they saw, officers went too far with how many shots they fired at the suspect.
“We are a family that is grieving because our loved one was shot multiple times,” Williams said. “People like to bring up a person’s past. My cousin never had a chance, so his past has nothing to do with what happened today because nobody deserved to be killed. I don’t care who you are.”
As is standard protocol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting and the officers who fired shots are on paid administrative leave.