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UPDATE: Suspect Arrested During Deltona Carjacking Investigation Charged In Ormond Beach Shooting
Date Added: December 20, 2018 2:45 pm
UPDATE (12/21/18): SUSPECT ARRESTED DURING DELTONA CARJACKING INVESTIGATION CHARGED IN ORMOND BEACH SHOOTING
A 19-year-old man arrested during the VCSO investigation of a Dec. 5 carjacking in Deltona is now facing charges from the Ormond Beach Police Department in a November shooting at the Skate and Shake skating rink.
Kevin Gaines, 19 (DOB 4/6/1999), of DeLand, was initially arrested Thursday by Volusia County sheriff's deputies who were executing a search warrant in the Deltona carjacking case. (See the previous update, below, for details.) An AR-15 rifle was also recovered from his bedroom.
As the carjacking investigation continued, sheriff's detectives recognized Gaines as a potential suspect in the Ormond Beach shooting case. VCSO analysts in the Volusia County Crime Center identified Gaines' Instagram account, which contained several videos of him waving around guns.
The Ormond Beach shooting happened the night of Nov. 10. About 300 to 400 people were at an event at the Skate and Shake (250 N. U.S. 1) when a suspect opened fire. No one was hit by gunfire, but a vehicle was riddled with bullet holes and one shot went through a window at the nearby Little Feet Academy daycare facility, which was empty at the time.
In the shooting, Gaines is facing charges from Ormond Beach PD of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon or delinquent and criminal mischief.
Sheriff's detectives have filed several additional charges related to the Deltona investigation (as mentioned in the previous update below). Gaines is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and driving while license suspended/revoked in connection to a Dec. 10 incident where he fled from detectives in Deltona.
Gaines is also facing VCSO charges of child neglect and two additional counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon or delinquent. In addition to possessing the AR-15 rifle and ammunition discovered in Thursday's search, detectives discovered one of Gaines' Instagram videos showed him holding an infant child in one arm while dancing and waving a handgun next to the baby's head.
Gaines is being held in the Volusia County Branch Jail on $71,000 bail on the above-listed charges from Ormond PD and VCSO.
The VCSO investigation of the Deltona carjacking continues, with detectives seeking information on the location of suspects Ruben Morales and Damion Prince. Anyone who has information about their whereabouts is asked to call 911. For a possible cash reward, contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at www.northeastflorida.crimestoppersweb.com or call 888-277-TIPS. Tips to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.
UPDATE (12/20/18): DETECTIVES ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE 3 SUSPECTS IN RECENT ARMED CARJACKING
VCSO Executes Search Warrant at 2nd Location; Public’s Help Still Sought
Volusia County sheriff’s detectives continue to search for three subjects wanted in a recent late-night armed carjacking of a young woman at her Deltona home. But we need the public’s help to find the males responsible for stealing the victim’s white 2002 Ford Escort at gunpoint.
Detectives identified one suspect -- Ruben Morales, 21 (DOB 11/03/1997), of 2348 Butterfield St., Deltona, and executed a search warrant at his residence Dec. 14. He has an open arrest warrant for armed carjacking in the Dec. 5 incident. It occurred in the 3000 block of Sanborn Lane, Deltona. He remains at large.
A second subject has been identified and he’s also wanted for armed carjacking. He is Damion Prince (DOB 9/10/1998), 3197 Sky Street, Deltona. A third suspect is still being identified in the carjacking.
Early Thursday, a search warrant was executed at 1101 Thompson Ave., DeLand, for the carjacking suspects. Neither Morales nor Prince were at the home. However, detectives recovered an AR-15 rifle and arrested three people. They include:
--Kevin Gaines, B/M, 19, (DOB 4/6/99), charged with possession of a firearm as an adjudicated juvenile, child neglect and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. He fled Dec. 10 from deputies attempting a traffic stop in which suspect Ruben Morales was observed in the vehicle.
--Tawanna Gardner, B/F, 49 (DOB 7/24/69), charged with possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.
--Diamond Bruten, B/F, 27 (DOB 5/4/91), charged with an open warrant for failure to appear on a battery charge.
Anyone who has information about these suspects or knows their whereabouts is urged to call 911. Or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at www.northeastflorida.crimestoppersweb.com or call 1-(888) 277-8477 (TIPS). You could be eligible for a cash reward.
This remains an active criminal investigation.
UPDATE (12/14/18): SUSPECT WANTED IN RECENT DELTONA ARMED CARJACKING
Search Warrant Results in 2 Unrelated Arrests, Narcotics Seized
Volusia County sheriff’s detectives, the Deltona Narcotics Unit and the VCSO SWAT team executed a search warrant early Friday at the home of a suspect wanted in the Dec. 5 armed carjacking of a young woman in Deltona.
Ruben Morales, 21 (DOB 11/03/1997), of 2348 Butterfield St., Deltona, is wanted in the armed carjacking, which occurred in the 3000 block of Sanborn Lane just before midnight, Dec. 5.
Friday’s search at Morales’ home did not produce any of the three carjacking suspects. However, two residents of the home were arrested and charged with crimes unrelated to the carjacking.
Joseph Brian Valentine, 49, (DOB 12/1/1969) was charged with five counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of marijuana under 20g. He is held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $25,500 bail. Jihad William Morales, 18, (DOB: 09/04/2000) is charged with possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana; possession with intent to sell marijuana; possession of paraphernalia and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon (Delinquent). His bail is set at $28,000.
In addition to the arrests, two rifles, four handguns, more than 150 rounds of ammunition, nearly 2 pounds of marijuana, and more than $4,000 were seized.
Anyone who knows of Ruben Morales’ whereabouts is asked to call 911. Or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at www.northeastflorida.crimestoppersweb.com, or call 1-(888) 277-8477 (TIPS). You could be eligible for a cash reward.
December 6, 2018 11:26 AM
Laura Williams
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations
Teen Unhurt in Armed Carjacking in Deltona; 3 Suspects Sought
A 19-year-old Deltona woman was carjacked in her driveway just before midnight Wednesday when two males pointed guns at her and demanded her vehicle.
The victim was returning from work in the 3000 block of Sanborn Lane, Deltona. She was sitting in the vehicle when the two males approached and asked if she would help jump-start their vehicle. She declined, prompting the males to pull their weapons and demand that she get out of the car, which she did.
The suspects quickly fled the area, along with a third male who the victim saw walking on Sanborn Lane. The stolen vehicle is a 2002 white, 4-door Ford Escort with Florida tag JELH76. It has a Michigan State college tag on the front.
Anyone with information about this crime or who spots the vehicle is asked to call 911. Or to remain anonymous, contact West Volusia Crime Stoppers at www.northeastflorida.crimestoppersweb.com, or call 1-888-277-8477 (TIPS). You could be eligible for a cash reward.