The sheriff’s office said a fleeing driver was shot after deputies found the car early Saturday.
DELAND, Fla. — A deputy-involved shooting outside a DeLand Walmart Neighborhood Market left one driver dead Saturday morning and drew multiple agencies to a busy South Woodland Boulevard shopping center.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said the driver had been wanted after a Friday night reckless driving incident that started in downtown DeLand. Investigators said the driver nearly struck a pedestrian, turned off the vehicle’s headlights and fled west on State Road 44.
Deputies located the vehicle around 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the Walmart parking lot at 955 S. Woodland Blvd. Officials said the driver tried to flee again when deputies moved toward the car. One deputy fired a shot through the windshield, striking the driver, the sheriff’s office said.
The vehicle rolled through part of the parking lot before crashing. Emergency crews took the driver to a hospital, where the driver was pronounced dead. Officials said no deputies, officers, shoppers or bystanders were injured.
Crime scene tape blocked parts of the lot as investigators processed the scene. WESH reported that shoppers who arrived later found the parking lot closed and saw law enforcement vehicles around the store. The Walmart reopened later Saturday morning.
The driver’s name had not been released by Sunday, and officials had not released the deputy’s name. Authorities also had not said what led the deputy to fire beyond the reported attempt by the driver to accelerate away.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is involved in the review, along with DeLand police and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is expected to examine the earlier pursuit, the actions in the parking lot and any video or witness evidence from the scene.
The case remained active Sunday. Officials had not announced a date for the next briefing, but further updates are expected when investigators confirm the driver’s identity and release more findings.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.