DELAND, Fla. — Volusia County deputies are gathering facts and canvassing a neighborhood in Deland after a man opened fire on an alleged “trespasser.”
Deputies said the incident began shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday as a 911 call about a trespassing incident along North Boulevard Court near Woodland Avenue.
Experts told Channel 9 that it is likely investigators are working to determine whether the man who opened fire could be immune from prosecution under the stand your ground law.
Neighbors in DeLand told Channel 9 they woke up Wednesday to flashing red and blue lights and evidence markers.
“It was a very, very scary scene,” said one neighbor, “ We heard about five- or six-gun shots… And about 20, 30 minutes later we had the Volusia County sheriffs banging on our door asking if we heard anything.”
Multiple neighbors told Channel 9 they heard several shots fired.
On Wednesday, Channel 9 spoke with the person who opened fire. That man said he lives in a camper in the back of his boss’ general contracting property off North Boulevard Court.
The man told Channel 9 that the person he shot was a former employee who used to stay on the property too, until that man was fired and told not to return.
According to deputies, Tuesday night the trespasser was found sleeping in the laundry room of the home. That led to an argument, and according to detectives, the trespasser advanced despite several warnings to stay back.
Criminal defense attorney Jessica Travis is the owner of Fighter Law in Winter Park. She said the Castle Doctrine could possibly apply to this case.
“The castle doctrine says when somebody comes into your house, you have the right to defend with deadly force and to protect yourself and your house,” said Travis.
Travis noted that essential in this investigation will be understanding exactly how the shooting unfolded and where, in relation to the home, this played out.
“Courts have ruled that when you are talking about your home, it’s not necessarily just inside your home. Sometimes it can also be the cartilage of your home which is like your front yard, those types of areas, your porch,” said Travis.
Travis said first, investigators are likely working to determine whether the shooter is immune from prosecution under the Stand Your Ground law.
“The requirement for that is that you have to meet the same level of force. So, if somebody is coming at you with deadly force, you are allowed to stand your ground and meet that deadly force,” said Travis.
Investigators have not yet stated whether the person shot was armed.
They have also not announced any arrests or identified any of the individuals involved in the case.
But on Wednesday, Channel 9 obtained 911 records for the property.
The records reveal that, since April of 2026, deputies have visited the home five prior times.
Those calls were for well-being checks, an animal complaint, and a suspicious person.
The records also reveal that exactly three months before Tuesday’s shooting, deputies served an Orange County warrant at the property.
Channel 9 is still working to learn the details of that warrant.
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