DeLAND, Fla. – The DeLand police chief and the Volusia County sheriff identified the man who was shot and killed by law enforcement during a traffic stop on Friday.
Investigators said Jayvion Barthel pointed a gun at a DeLand police officer, prompting the officer and a Volusia County detective to open fire, killing the 20-year-old.
The shooting happened during a traffic stop near the intersection of Woodland Boulevard and Euclid Avenue.
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“Investigators were working on an unrelated burglary investigation in the area of the Friendly Way when they observed a vehicle, a white Dodge Charger, that they knew was connected to a previous aggravated assault with a firearm,” DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger said.
Umberger said his officers then conducted a traffic stop on the Charger. According to Sheriff Mike Chitwood, one of his detectives was nearby at the time of the traffic stop and came to act as backup.
“Basically, the bad guy points a gun at the DeLand sergeant, which causes him to fire, which causes my deputy to fire into the car, as well,” Chitwood said.
Barthel was seated in the backseat of the Charger, according to police. A gun was found on the floor of the vehicle where Barthel was seated, investigators said.
A male driver and female passenger were also in the car. They were not hurt by the gunfire, according to investigators, nor were any members of law enforcement.
Umberger and Chitwood both said it is not clear whether Barthel fired at all, adding that it would be up to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine exactly what happened.
Investigators detailed the previous attack that they believe the Charger was involved in. On Aug. 17, police said surveillance video captured two women exiting a home who were then approached by a man with a gun. The man tried to fire multiple shots, but the gun malfunctioned, and he took off, according to investigators, leaving the women unharmed.
“Technology puts (the Charger) near the scene,” Chitwood said. “The question is who was in that video (pulling the trigger), and there’s a $10,000 reward for anybody who wants to identify who was in that video trying to assassinate people.”
Investigators said the car is a rental, adding that it is not clear whether Barthel or the other people in the car Friday were involved in the Aug. 17 attack.
Chitwood added that Bartel has a long criminal history dating back to when he was 12 years old.
Barthel was arrested in 2022 after investigators said he pulled out a gun at a DeLand High School football game.
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