DELTONA, Fla. -- New details emerged Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Navy veteran who pointed a firearm at officers in Deltona, including a revised estimate of 80 rounds fired during Tuesday’s showdown.
- Gregory Howe was struck 14 times, including fatal head shot
- Deltona man was armed with a shotgun - not an AK-47-style rifle
- Sheriff Mike Chitwood slams DeLand police chief on Facebook
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood originally estimated four deputies fired about 20 rounds at Gregory Howe, 37, as he was behind the wheel of a pickup parked outside his home at 501 Haversham Road in the Saxon Ridge subdivision on Tuesday.
Howe was struck 14 times, including a single fatal head shot, according to the most recent preliminary information, Andrew Gant, a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, told Spectrum News late Wednesday.
Howe managed to fire one round from what was originally described as an AK-47-style rifle before bullets hit his hand and weapon.
Chitwood’s agency Wednesday also released a photo of Howe’s weapon: a Kel-Tec KSG pump shotgun.
Howe pointed the weapon at deputies after a slow-speed chase from DeLand that began before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Chitwood said.
DeLand Police Chief Jason D. Umberger on Wednesday provided a detailed statement about his agency’s involvement and body-camera footage showing Howe’s traffic stop at West Carter Street and South Clara Avenue.
DeLand Motor Officer Mike Stacy, who was parked at South Florida Avenue facing north at West Beresford Avenue, spotted Howe driving without a seat belt in violation of Florida law.
After pulling Howe over, Stacy noticed Howe “reaching down and toward the passenger’s side of the vehicle,” Umberger said.
“He asked the driver what he had been reaching for and noted that he seemed nervous and would not respond to his questions,” the chief said.
Chitwood said Howe was probably reaching for the shotgun.
Stacy checked Howe’s license, discovered it was suspended, and called for backup.
After Officer Brian Bice arrived, Stacy told Howe he couldn't drive because of the suspended license.
Howe looked directly forward and put his vehicle into drive.
“Don’t do it,” Stacy told him. Howe ignored him and drove off. Stacy reported the fleeing suspect at 3:01 p.m.
Umberger underscored that both officers followed department policy, which prohibits pursuing vehicles for civil traffic violations or criminal misdemeanor citations.
“There are instances where we will pursue fleeing vehicles per our policy but this is not one of them,” Umberger said. “The purpose of such a policy is that pursuits are dangerous and unpredictable and can create additional risk to the public. Unless certain circumstances or crimes have been committed we do not pursue.”
Umberger praised his officers for their professionalism.
"This traffic stop underscores the often times unpredictable nature of police work," the chief said. "Officer Stacy conducted what seemed to be a routine traffic stop and was handling it accordingly save for the furtive movements and suspicious movements and demeanor of Mr. Howe. Mr. Howe escalated the incident by fleeing and Officer Stacy remained professional and followed departmental policy."
Umberger’s comments aggravated Chitwood.
“Today, I was saddened to learn via the news media that the main concern of the lightweight Police Chief of DeLand is to call a news conference and make sure everyone knows his officers didn't pursue or follow this suspect,” the sheriff said on Facebook.
Chitwood said deputies tracked Howe in patrol vehicles and from an agency helicopter called Air One. Deputies used devices to flatten the pickup’s tires, slowing the vehicle’s speed. Howe didn’t stop until he pulled into his driveway.
“Call it whatever you want -- pursuit, chase, following at low speed -- our deputies on the ground and our Air One crew in the sky were tracking this suspect all the way to Deltona, where, after multiple stop stick hits deflated his tires, he made a final decision that cost him his life,” Chitwood wrote.
The Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday revealed the names of the officers who opened fire the day before:
- Sgt. John McDonald, 52
- Det. Shawn Adkins, 29
- Det. John Frazzini, 50
- Deputy Graeme Foster, 30
Those officers were placed on administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the fatal shooting.
Chitwood also confirmed Howe is a suspect in the April 26 shooting of a woman in Orange City, which is east of Deltona.
"Today, we know that the deceased (Gregory Howe) has been ID'd as the suspect in an April 26 shooting in Orange City, where a woman was shot in the chest by a man matching Howe's description in a truck just like the one he was driving yesterday," Chitwood said.
A message to Orange City police on Wednesday was not immediately returned.
Chitwood said that agency is investigating whether a 40-caliber handgun taken from Howe by Daytona Beach police was used in the Orange City attack.
Daytona Beach police arrested Howe on May 1 after an officer noticed he was driving without wearing a seat belt while heading east on Cedar Street. An officer checked his license and told him it was suspended.
Howe said he had weapons in his truck. Police seized a 40-caliber handgun and charged Howe with carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.
Police also found a rifle and 112 rounds for the weapon. Howe was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach. His truck was towed.
Chitwood said Howe was medically discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2012.