Seminole County

UPDATE: Person of interest in Osteen homicide charged after shootout with Seminole County deputies

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A man who is a person of interest in a murder in Osteen, and was later shot by Seminole County deputies, is now facing felony charges after the shootout.

1:05 p.m. Friday update:

Brandon Mclean has been charged with two counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on officers and possession of weapon by felon.

Original report:

Seminole County deputies shot a person of interest in a Volusia County murder case after he fled from them into a Sanford neighborhood and fired shots at the deputies, Sheriff Dennis Lemma said Wednesday.

Lemma said Brandon Mclean, 32, ran from deputies who approached him and another man outside of a laundromat on French Avenue in Sanford.

READ: Death investigation underway in Volusia County

Lemma said the pair had been spotted driving a car belonging to a 28-year-old Orange City woman who was found dead on the Osteen Trail after being slashed and stabbed Tuesday evening.

The homicide victim has been identified as Amy Desiree Layne Humphries.

Investigators said they are still trying to determine what relationship Mclean and the woman had, but Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the Humphries’ injuries seem to have been done in a fit of passion and not at random.

READ: ‘I’m glad she knew that I loved her’: Mother remembers daughter after she was killed, dumped on Osteen trail

Chitwood said Humphries was slashed around six times and then stabbed another dozen times. He said those injuries were inflicted elsewhere, not on the trail where her body was found.

The other man was taken into custody without incident and is not currently facing charges, Lemma said, but Mclean ran behind the laundromat into a neighborhood, where he pointed a gun at deputies twice and fired at them at least once.

READ: 2 men found guilty of murdering Osceola County mother Nicole Montalvo

Lemma said deputies fired at Mclean twice, striking him five times the second time.

Lemma said Mclean was released from prison six weeks ago after serving a nine-year sentence for a violent crime.

Lemma said there are bullet holes in several houses in the area and in the side of the laundromat, but that no one else was injured in the gunfire.

READ: Ma’Khia Bryant shooting: Police ID officer who fatally shot Ohio girl, 16, holding knife

Lemma said the deputies broke down a fence to be able to render aid to Mclean after he was shot. He said Mclean is in stable condition at a local hospital.

“These three deputies acted heroically,” Lemma said.

Lemma said Mclean had a gun, knife and the ID of the woman found dead in Osteen.

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“There’s a big crime scene somewhere, we just haven’t found it,” Chitwood said.

Chitwood said Humphries leased a 2021 Jetta within the past week, and that license plate readers tracked the car near the spot on the trail where her body was dumped Tuesday evening, and again Wednesday morning.

READ: Deputy who fatally shot 16-year-old, 18-year-old won’t be charged, state attorney says

Chitwood said several witnesses Tuesday evening saw a car driving on the trail, which is not open to vehicles, before the Humphries’ body was discovered at the center of the walking path.

READ: Orlando motorcyclist run over, killed after performing stunt on I-95 in Brevard County

Lemma and Chitwood said the license plate readers again tracked the car into Seminole County, which is how they were able to catch up to it in the laundromat parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

The laundromat is less than half a mile from Sanford Middle School, which was placed on Code Yellow while the investigation into the shooting continued.

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PREVIOUS UPDATES:

4:55 p.m. UPDATE:

Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma is about to provide an update on the case.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UPDATE LIVE <<<

4:20 p.m. UPDATE:

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said two people are in custody related to the death of a 29-year-old Orange City woman whose body was found on the Osteen Trail on Tuesday.

Chitwood said several witnesses Tuesday evening saw a car driving on the trail, which is not open to vehicles, before the woman’s body was discovered dumped at the center of the walking path.

>>> CLICK HERE TO STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE<<<

He said the woman was slashed around six times and then stabbed another dozen times. He said those injuries were inflicted elsewhere, and seem to have been done in a fit of passion and not at random.

“There’s a big crime scene somewhere, we just haven’t found it,” Chitwood said.

He said the woman leased a 2021 Jetta within the past week, and that license plate readers tracked the car near the spot on the trail where the woman’s body was dumped Tuesday evening and again Wednesday morning.

READ: Ma’Khia Bryant shooting: Police ID officer who fatally shot Ohio girl, 16, holding knife

He said readers also logged the car parked in Sanford Wednesday afternoon near a laundry mat on French Avenue. Chitwood said that is where Seminole County deputies caught up with the suspects and a shooting occurred.

No deputies were injured in the shooting, Chitwood said.

Chitwood said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma will provide an update on what happened when deputies caught up with the suspects in a news conference around 5 p.m.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UPDATE LIVE AT 5 P.M. <<<

Watch Chitwood’s full update below:

3:30 p.m. UPDATE:

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is set to provide an update on the Osteen death investigation at any moment.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UPDATE LIVE <<<

3:10 p.m. UPDATE:

Seminole County deputies posted a tweet stating that they are investigating a shooting west of U.S. 17-92 and 22nd Street and that all suspects are accounted for.

An update from the sheriff is expected at 5 p.m.

READ: Intruders shoot man, 20, to death at Orlando apartment complex

2:55 p.m. UPDATE:

Seminole County deputies said Sheriff Dennis Lemma is on his way to the scene from out of town and will provide an update on the shooting around 5 p.m.

>>> Click here to watch that live update when it happens <<<

2:35 p.m. UPDATE:

Volusia County deputies just released additional information about the death investigation that is tied to a shooting in Sanford.

Deputies said the woman who’s body was found in Osteen had several stab wounds.

READ: Death investigation underway in Volusia County

“The investigation into her death led to the identification of the suspect vehicle, which was spotted in Seminole County today, leading to the incident that just occurred,” deputies said in a news release.

“Volusia deputies were not involved in the shooting, but are assisting in the investigation.”

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is planning to provide an update on the case at 3:15 p.m. Click here to watch that update live.

2:30 p.m. UPDATE:

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told Channel 9 the incident in Sanford is connected to a death investigation in Volusia County.

The body of a woman was discovered around 7 p.m. on Tuesday by a witness on a trail near Osteen Maytown Road, in the area of Azalea Lane, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

READ: Death investigation underway in Volusia County

Chitwood said Seminole County deputies were surveilling the car that was seen near where the body was found when the incident in Sanford occurred.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH OFFICIALS PROVIDE A LIVE UPDATE<<<

2:15 p.m. UPDATE:

Seminole County and Volusia County deputies are both on the scene near French Avenue and 20th Street in Sanford.

Officials are expected to provide an update shortly.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UPDATE LIVE WHEN IT HAPPENS <<<

1:50 p.m. UPDATE:

Channel 9 Seminole County reporter Jeff Levkulich is on scene working to get updates from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

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1:35 p.m. UPDATE:

Seminole County Public Schools officials said Sanford Middle School is on a Code Yellow due to police activity in the area.

The school is about a third of a mile away from the scene where deputies have put up crime scene tape.

READ: Orlando motorcyclist run over, killed after performing stunt on I-95 in Brevard County

According to the SCPS website, a Code Yellow (Shelter in Place) is used when an incident is occurring outside or near the school that requires police, medical, or fire response.

Here’s what happens under Code Yellow:

  • If students are outside the school, they are brought indoors.
  • Exterior doors and windows are closed and locked.
  • Regular school activities continue as scheduled.
  • Students and staff remain inside until the “All Clear” announcement is given.

1:25 p.m. ORIGINAL STORY:

There is a large law enforcement presence off of U.S. Highway 17-92 in Sanford on Wednesday afternoon.

The scene is near French Avenue and 20th Street.

READ: Deputy who fatally shot 16-year-old, 18-year-old won’t be charged, state attorney says

Channel 9 has crews on the ground working to get information regarding the incident confirmed. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

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Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.