MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Nicholas Delatorre is facing new charges after leading Levy County Deputies on a cross-county chase,
resulting in an officer-involved shooting, according to various records WFTV obtained through a public records request.
The 35-Year-Old man, according to the sheriff’s office, was shot after pointing a Model 1911-style weapon in a wooded area in Dunnellon. The sheriff’s office said their deputy recognized Delatorre and knew there was an active warrant for his arrest, but he drove away after being asked to step out of the vehicle during a traffic stop.
According to the computer-assisted dispatch system, deputies reached speeds around 110 miles per hour while chasing him to Marion County.
Paul Dellinger, who lives near the scene, said he watched the car chase from his home on Tuesday night. He said he saw a pick-up truck doing donuts after being boxed in by law enforcement on both sides of Highway 40, then watched the truck drive into a wooded area before crashing into a ditch and hearing gunshots.
“Just a bam, bam, bam and it sounded like it was a single weapon you know not like you know two different sounds,” Dellinger said.
John Hession, who said he’s never seen more law enforcement in his life, said he heard the gun shots living near the wooded area in Marion County.
“We just kind of ducked for cover,” Hession said. “And then it filled up quick [with law enforcement]. They had both lanes blocked off. Helicopters were out here.”
Hession said he saw an individual on a stretcher. The Sheriff’s Office said Delatorre was transported to the hospital after records said he was crawling after being shot in multiple places. Delatorre is now being held at the Marion County Jail, according to inmate records.
According to court records, Delatorre had a warrant for violating probation after refusing a drug test. He was on probation after pleading guilty to stealing a boat in the Tampa area.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, according to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.
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