July 14, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING DELTONA SHOOTING

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting in Deltona that sent a man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his back late Sunday night. The injury is not life threatening. According to witnesses, the shooting happened while they were in a car traveling down Normandy Boulevard. However, this does not appear to be a road rage incident.

The Sheriff's Office was notified of the shooting at approximately 11:51 p.m. The victim was apparently in a car with five other people as they were driving along Normandy Boulevard. Another car followed them, the witnesses said, and they believe the suspects were after them in relation to a previous altercation. But so far investigators do not know much about that incident or the possible suspects. The witnesses in the victim car said that they were near the intersection of Normandy and Wanda Lane when the suspects fired multiple times at them from behind. One bullet penetrated inside, striking the 20-year-old victim in the mid-back. The witnesses were able to evade the suspect vehicle after that, and they then drove the victim, Deltona resident Louis Cruz, to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City.

The only suspect information investigators have so far is that the suspect vehicle was a black Dodge Charger with chrome wheels. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Sheriff's Offce at (386) 736-5999 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.