Suspect Charged With Attempted First-Degree Murder In Pierson Shooting

Date Added: April 20, 2018 10:29 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

SUSPECT CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN PIERSON SHOOTING

A suspect in a weekend shooting at a party in Pierson is in custody on a charge of attempted first-degree murder after Volusia County Sheriff’s Office detectives determined he tried to kill a man in retaliation for an earlier altercation.

Deputies arrested 24-year-old Kelley Anderson (DOB 1/11/1994) Thursday evening in connection to the shooting, which happened around midnight Sunday at a family party on Pecan Street in Pierson. No one was injured in the incident.

Detectives were able to connect the shooting to a physical altercation that happened last Thursday (April 12) involving Anderson’s girlfriend. When Anderson found out about that incident, he went to Pierson to retaliate.

The victim reported two unknown males drove up to him during the party and talked to him briefly before several shots were fired. The victim took cover behind a nearby pickup truck.

Detectives arriving on scene found two vehicles that were struck by bullets. They also took castings of tire tracks left in the parking area. Those tracks later turned out to match a unique pattern on the tires of Anderson’s car.

Several .40 caliber shell casings were also recovered, and a review of past cases revealed Anderson was involved in two previous incidents involving a stolen .40 caliber “Mac 40” handgun that was never recovered. One of the cases was an armed robbery in which the suspects shot at a bartender at Pat’s Place Bar in DeLand. A Winchester shell casing was recovered from that scene.

Some of the shell casings left at the scene of Sunday’s shooting were also .40 caliber Winchester casings.

The evidence suggests that another shooter was involved in the incident, and anyone with information that may lead to a second suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, 888-277-TIPS or westopcrime.com. Tipsters remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.

Anderson remained held without bond Friday in the Volusia County Branch Jail.