3 indicted in death of man who was shot during attempted carjacking in DeLand
Three men have been indicted on charges of first-degree murder in the death of a 23-year-old man following an attempted carjacking outside Florida Technical College in DeLand, according the DeLand Police Department.
John E. Torres, 22, of DeLand; Isaiah Thomas, 21, of New Smyrna Beach; and Nassan Bacon, 22, of New Smyrna Beach, were each indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the May 22 attempted carjacking outside the college, 1199 S. Woodland Ave., DeLand, according to a tweet Friday from the DeLand Police Department.
A 23-year-old DeLeon Springs man was shot and killed during the attempted carjacking, DeLand Police said in June.
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Three charged with murder in deadly attempted carjacking https://t.co/uncDbe1Swr
— DeLand Police Department (@DeLandPD) July 1, 2022
Torres and Thomas were already being held in the Volusia County Branch Jail in connection with the carjacking attempt of a 75-year-old man outside the Walmart at 1699 N. Woodland Blvd. on May 21.
Bacon was arrested on Thursday by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, which tweeted a video showing his arrest with the help of a K9. The sheriff’s office said Bacon was K9 Red's first “apprehension.”
Bacon was behind an appliance up against a wooden fence when Red bit down on one of his legs while deputies stood by with guns drawn, according to the video. Bacon screamed as Red growled while deputies shouted at Bacon to show his hands.
Video: K-9 Red has his first apprehension, a violent suspect with multiple felony warrants who has been under surveillance. Nassan Bacon was recently seen purchasing a 60-round AK-47 magazine at a New Smyrna Beach gun store. https://t.co/19e7zo56eR
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) July 1, 2022
A fourth person, Estella Luna, 24, was arrested in West Palm Beach in the attempted carjacking outside Walmart, DeLand Police said. Luna was charged with being a principal to carjacking, principal to burglary, and assault and battery, police said.
Torres and Thomas first tried to carjack the 75-year-old man in the parking lot of the Walmart at 1699 N. Woodland Blvd. at 11:50 p.m. on May 21, police said.
The 75-year-old said he was sitting in his car watching videos on his phone and was surprised by two men wearing dark-colored ski masks who opened both of the front doors to his vehicle, a charging affidavit stated. They demanded he get out, which he did and then they got in the car, affidavit said.
But the 75-year-old had the keys to the car in his pocket. The pair then demanded the keys but the man instead ran to the entrance of Walmart and banged on the door for help, according to the affidavit.
The would-be carjackers then got out of the car and ran down North Woodland Boulevard. The man said a dark-colored SUV that was parked adjacent to him left the parking lot, traveling in the direction of the two men, without turning its lights on, the charging affidavit stated.
About 12:45 a.m. on May 22, the 23-year-old man and his girlfriend were sitting in the back seat of the man's Toyota Camry in the parking lot of Florida Technical College when a black Cadillac SUV drove up to the Toyota, the affidavit stated. Two people from the SUV tried to get into the Camry and there was a struggle, the affidavit stated.
One of the subjects fired a shot through the front windshield of the Camry and the bullet struck the 23-year-old in the head, the affidavit said.
DeLand Police said more charges and arrests are pending in the case.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 3 men indicted in fatal shooting during car theft near Daytona
