Indian River County - Wednesday June 29, 2022: Indian River County Sheriff deputies gave chase to a vehicle involved in a reported kidnapping that began in Osceola County and ended Saturday night in Brevard County where the suspect was shot and killed. The two women in his vehicle were freed.
In a video posted on the IRC Sheriff's Facebook page, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said his Deputies were able to locate the suspect's vehicle after receiving a description of it from the Osceola County Sherriff's Office. "We jumped right on it," said Sheriff Flowers. "The guy started shooting at our Deputies and we did not give up" the chase, he said.
The chase began around 8 pm Saturday night and continued through the southern part of Brevard County with the suspect firing multiple times at Indian River County Deputies. The pursuit ended when the vehicle became disabled in a field in the area of Old Dixie Highway and Foley Lane in Grant.
In the video Sheriff Flowers is joined by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivy and Sebastian Police Chief Daniel Acosta whose agencies were also involved. "Indian River County Deputies got behind a violent suspect that had two hostages, holding them at gunpoint," said Sheriff Ivy.
View the video on the IRC Sheriff's Facebook page here> https://fb.watch/dY0xmgxhni/
According to a release from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, after the suspect vehicle came to a stop one of the females was able to escape and make it to the safety of the Sheriff Deputies. The male suspect then exited the vehicle while holding a gun to the head of the second female victim and they entered a wooded area.
The suspect and his female hostage were tracked by Aviation Units from the Brevard, Indian River and Osceola County Sheriff’s Offices until a team of officers were able to intercept them. An exchange of gunfire occurred between the suspect and members of the Indian River and Brevard County Sheriff’s Offices and the Sebastian Police Department.
The suspect was fatally wounded and the remaining female hostage was rescued. The two female victims were transported to local hospitals where they were evaluated and treated. No law enforcement personnel sustained any injuries during the incident.
The investigation of this incident is being conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit. Officers from all three law enforcement agencies were involved in the shooting and they have been put on paid Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is customary in all officer involved shootings.
The identities of the suspect, and the victims, as well as the law enforcement personnel involved, have not been released.