ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — A 40-year-old man is facing multiple charges after police say he attacked an elderly couple outside Daytona College, then hours later grabbed an Ormond Beach police officer’s gun and shot the officer during a struggle inside a Daytona Beach hospital.
Michael Hightower is charged with two counts of attempted felony murder in connection with the attack on the couple. Police said additional charges are expected.
Officer Austin Long was shot in the leg and is expected to make a full recovery.
The 79-year-old man and 74-year-old woman remained hospitalized Monday after suffering critical injuries.
RELATED: Ormond Beach police officer shot overnight, investigation underway
Couple attacked after responding to burglary alarm
The series of events began Sunday evening at Daytona College on South Nova Road.
Police said the husband and wife went to the property after receiving a burglary alarm notification.
Investigators said they found a suspicious vehicle and items inside the building that did not belong there, including a wallet, identification card and suspected alcohol.
While the couple was outside calling 911, police said Hightower got into a vehicle and struck the woman.
Investigators said he then got out of the vehicle and attacked both victims, repeatedly punching and kicking them.
The arrest affidavit says evidence found at the scene matched Hightower and that he acknowledged being at the property despite not being there for work. Investigators also said Hightower admitted striking both victims.
911 call captures attack
The couple’s call to 911 captured part of what happened.
Police said the woman had been speaking with a dispatcher about the suspicious activity when she could suddenly be heard screaming.
Investigators believe Hightower can be heard attacking the couple in the background of the call.
The affidavit says officers arrived to find the victims suffering severe injuries. Both were hospitalized and initially unable to speak with investigators because of their conditions.
Hightower fled on foot after his vehicle became disabled, police said.
A multi-agency search followed, with officers locating him near the 300 block of Clyde Morris Boulevard around 7:37 p.m.
He was taken into custody.
RELATED: Aggravated battery investigated at Daytona College
Officer shot inside hospital
After his arrest, Hightower was taken to AdventHealth Daytona Beach for a medical evaluation.
Police said that around 3:20 a.m. Monday, Hightower became involved in a physical struggle with Ormond Beach police Officer Austin Long, who had been assigned to guard him.
Investigators said Hightower grabbed Long’s firearm during the struggle and the gun fired, striking the officer in the leg.
Long suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said Hightower had been temporarily unrestrained for medical procedures, including imaging.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said his department is reviewing exactly what happened before Hightower was able to gain control of the officer’s weapon.
Police chief raises concerns about hospital procedures
The shooting has also raised questions about procedures inside the hospital.
Young said he had heard concerns from several officers about their interactions with hospital staff and believes some aspects of what happened need further review.
He said he plans to meet with AdventHealth leaders and wants the hospital to conduct its own review of the incident.
Godfrey offered a different assessment when asked whether anything could have been done differently, saying Hightower needed to be temporarily unrestrained so medical procedures could be performed.
Young said he believes investigators still need to determine whether there were opportunities to handle the situation differently.
The Daytona Beach Police Department is investigating the shooting involving Long, while Ormond Beach police are investigating the attack on the elderly couple.
Suspect was recently arrested in separate case
Channel 9 also learned Hightower had recently been arrested in an unrelated case and was out on bond when Sunday’s violence occurred.
Records show Hightower was arrested in August on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving an injury. The case stemmed from an April hit-and-run involving a pedestrian.
Hightower is now back in custody as investigators continue working to determine everything that happened at Daytona College and later inside the hospital.
The elderly couple remains hospitalized.
Officer Long is also recovering from his gunshot wound.
The investigations remain ongoing.
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