Teen robbery suspect accused of shooting at Volusia deputies

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A 16-year-old robbery suspect is accused of shooting at Volusia County deputies when they tried to arrest him Friday night.

The shooting happened in the backyard of a home on Lansdowne Avenue in Orange City shortly after 9 p.m., officials said. Deputies went to the home to arrest 16-year-old Dominic Jorgensen-Cloutier after investigators determined he was responsible for a Kangaroo Express robbery that happened Wednesday, according to sheriff's office officials.

Deputies said someone called police Friday evening and told them Jorgensen-Cloutier was hiding out at the Lansdowne Avenue home.

"The woman on the phone did say she overheard him say that he had 'no intentions of being taken without a fight,'" Brandon Haught with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

When deputies arrived at the home, they said Jorgensen-Cloutier ran outside and hid behind a shed. That's where he opened fire on the deputies, hitting Deputy John Vedder's bulletproof vest. Vedder was not injured and didn't need medical attention, officials said.

The deputy was able to release his K-9 Rudo, who bit the suspect's arm.

"This kid immediately, as soon as that dog got a hold of him, said 'I surrender, I surrender, I give up,'" Haught said.

WFTV reporter Ken Tyndall spoke to Melissa Hammitt, who lives at the home where the shooting happened.

"The next thing I know I hear the pop, pop, popping," Hammitt said.

Hammitt said Jorgensen-Cloutier was at her home with her daughter when the deputies showed up.

"To me, he's a good kid. He just wants to be a thug," Hammitt said.

In addition to armed robbery and theft charges, the teen was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. It will be up to prosecutors to decide whether Jorgensen-Cloutier will be charged as an adult.

WFTV