DeLand, FL - The man wanted for a DeLeon Springs shooting remains in critical condition after being shot in the chest by a DeLand police officer.
Earlier today (November 20th), the Volusia County Sheriff's Office released the body camera footage of one of the deputies that fired at 33-year-old Dillon Parker that captures most of the shooting
after Parker opened fire on law enforcement yesterday afternoon (November 19th).
The video was made public at a press event today where VCSO and the DeLand Police Department gave an update on the shooting and Parker's condition.
Part of the video shows one of the VCSO deputies arriving at the scene and pulling out his sidearm to fire through the windshield of his car at Parker as he opened fire on law enforcement.
After firing at two of the deputies, Parker was shot in the chest and thigh by a DeLand police officer, who was on his way to work, with his department-issued assault rifle.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood says the clean shot from the rifle is the reason Parker is alive today.
"That's probably why he's alive today," Chitwood said. "That's what the trauma surgeon told us, that the high powered rifle (shot) went straight through."
Chitwood said if it were a lower velocity bullet, Parker would have died.
Parker was originally wanted for a shooting in DeLeon Springs after he shot a man in a driveway during an argument.
According to Sheriff Chitwood, this shooting happened not too far from Parker's previous shooting.
"He's coming right back to the neighborhood where he shot the guy," Chitwood said. "I mean, he's probably a mile away from where the original shooting took place."
Sheriff Chitwood also commented that Parker was placed in the same room as his victim when he was first transported to the hospital. Under recommendation from law enforcement, Parker was moved to a different room, despite the room still being on the same floor.
Reports show that as of this morning, Parker is still in critical condition and was headed back into the operating room for another surgery. His condition after that is still unknown.
"Thank the good Lord that they all went home safe last night, and that's the bottom line." Chitwood said, commenting on the officers and deputy involved.
During the press event, Sheriff Chitwood also said that this entire event could have been avoided if Parker had remained in jail for his previous charges, with Volusia County Jail records showing that Parker has been booked there 26 times since October 2004.
According to Sheriff Chitwood, his department operates under the "80/20 Rule." Per Chitwood, this means that 80% of the crime that the Volusia County Sheriff's Office deals with is done by the same 20% of criminals "over and over and over again."
He then commented that this happens because there are not enough judges or prosecutors who give repeat offenders the maximum penalty allowed by law.
The report also shows that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting and the DeLand officer since his shots were the ones that incapacitated Parker.
