Police ID man killed by deputies after holding his own baby hostage in armed standoff
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the man killed in an armed confrontation with deputies Friday after taking his own baby hostage and shooting its mother.
Deshaun Albert Dunmyer, 31, was the suspect, the agency said in a press release. The mother, who remains unidentified, is still recovering in the hospital after being both stabbed and shot by Dunmyer, the sheriff’s office said.
No other new information was included in the department’s news release.
Deputies responded to reports of a domestic disturbance not far from North Hiawassee Road around 5 p.m. and found the mother, who was taken to the hospital. Deputies attempted to confront Dunmyer, but he barricaded himself inside the home on Colony Oaks Lane and used the child as a shield, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a press conference held shortly after midnight Saturday.
SWAT teams were called to the scene. Deputies negotiated with Dunmyer for several hours, but he remained inside the house. Mina said police became increasingly concerned for the child’s safety because Dunmyer was speaking in past tense and praying. When SWAT officers saw him holding the gun and baby they breached the front door of the house and shot him.
At the conference, Mina said the child was safe. He did not say the child’s age, but officers referred to “the baby.” The mother was in surgery at the time.
Police are investigating what led to the initial shooting and stabbing. Mina said it’s not known how many shots were fired or if Dunmyer managed to fire any shots when SWAT officers breached the home.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the incident and turn over the findings to the state attorney’s office for review. Once that process is complete, the Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own internal investigation.
The deputies who fired their weapons are on temporary paid administrative leave pending the initial FDLE review. Body-camera footage from the incident will be available within 30 days.
