DeLand, FL - A suspect wanted for a previous shooting is in critical condition after being shot by a DeLand police officer.
According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Volusia County Sheriff's Office received a tip from Lake County saying that 33-year-old Dillon Parker was spotted heading back into the area of DeLeon Springs.
The man shot by Parker remains at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach in critical condition.
As a deputy was driving down US-17 in DeLand, he noticed a golden Honda that matched the description given to deputies.
Parker saw the deputy head towards him, which he then swerved into the deputy's lane, causing the deputy to drive off of the road.
As Parker continued south on US-17, deputies began to deploy stop-sticks on the road, which would then disable Parker's vehicle and cause him to drive into the median.
When another deputy pulls up to the scene, Parker leaves the vehicle and begins to open fire on the deputy. Another deputy would then arrive and shoot through his windshield at Parker, causing Parker to run.
According to Sheriff Chitwood, a DeLand police officer on his way to work saw the commotion on US-17 and made a U-turn into Parker's path.
The officer would then step out of his vehicle with his assault rifle and open fire on Parker, shooting him in the chest and thigh.
Parker would then be airlifted to Halifax Health in critical condition.
"I will say that both the deputies and the DeLand police officer had an angel on their shoulder." Sheriff Chitwood said at a press conference regarding the shooting.
The incident would cause US-17 to be shut down in both directions around Golden Hills Boulevard as law enforcement investigated the shooting.
