Volusia County

Officer Raynor’s family seeking $5 million from alleged gunman Othal Wallace

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The family of the Daytona Beach police officer killed in the line of duty is now suing the suspect and seeking $5 million.

The defendant, Othal Wallace, filed paperwork stating he does not have any money.

Wallace qualifies for the public defender’s office to represent him because of his lack of income. But there is an online legal defense fund the attorney for Officer Jason Raynor’s family could go after.

READ: State attorney to seek death penalty against man accused of killing Daytona Beach police officer

Police said Wallace shot Raynor in the head on June 23; he died 53 days later in the hospital.

Paperwork that Wallace filed with the court system on Monday lists no income and five dependents. He has pleaded not guilty to the initial charge of attempted murder. No plea has been entered for the upgraded murder charge at this time.

“I am aware there is some fund available that has been setup for maybe the criminal defense,” said Geoff Bichler, Raynor’s family’s attorney. “We are going to proceed on the civil side and see where that takes us.”

READ: Daytona Beach police officer Jason Raynor dies after being shot in the head

A page collecting donations for Wallace’s legal defense claims to have raised more than $47,000.

Bichler said the family is also working to collect Raynor’s more than $200,000 in death benefits for the family from the city, and will use it as a charitable foundation in Raynor’s honor.

Channel 9 reached out to Wallace through the jail, but he declined to do an interview on this lawsuit.

READ: Community pays respects to Daytona Beach Officer Jason Raynor during funeral procession

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.