DeLand, FL - One of two 18-year-olds wanted for trying to murder a man in the driveway of his DeLand home nearly three months ago is now in handcuffs.
The DeLand Police Department took Daymont Ward into custody around 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon (April 17th) in the western end of the city thanks to a tip on his whereabouts, according to city spokesperson Chris Graham.
"When police arrived at the home, he tried to escape," Graham added. "[He] was caught shortly thereafter."
Ward - who was wanted for shooting a 25-year-old man in the arm in the Candlelight Oaks subdivision last January - was arrested in a wooded area near South Dexter and West Winnemissett avenues after an officer tracked him down to a home on West Franklin Avenue earlier that day, according to an arrest report supplement.
The victim's injuries weren't life-threatening.
Ward is currently held on no bond at Volusia County Jail on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. More charges could be filed soon, according to Graham.
VCJ records show Ward has been booked there twice before, including last February for violating probation on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief. The other was last October for armed burglary, grand theft, carrying a concealed firearm and other unlisted crimes.
Stephen Bruten - the other suspect in the shooting - remains at-large, per DeLand PD. Detectives are also still trying to identify the other two men they believe were with Bruten and Ward that night.
A motive for the incident hasn't been firmly established, but police believe it may have been a robbery attempt that went awry.
Anyone with information on Bruten or the unidentified men is urged to contact DeLand PD Detective Anthony Bota at 386-626-7422 or botaa@deland.org.
