DeBary Man Arrested In Shooting That Injured 1

Date Added: December 16, 2023 10:30 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

DEBARY MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING THAT INJURED 1

A DeBary man has been arrested in a Friday evening shooting that injured another man.

Deputies responded to the shooting at 9 Cunningham Road shortly after 6 p.m. Friday. The shooter, 69-year-old John Baker (DOB 2/17/1954), told deputies he shot the victim in the leg with a shotgun.

A deputy found the 45-year-old victim lying at the end of the road bleeding from a gunshot wound to his ankle. The deputy applied a tourniquet before the victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were determined to be non-life-threatening.

The victim, whose home address is a short distance away from the shooting scene, told detectives he was searching the area for a bike that has been repeatedly stolen out of his yard. While searching, he found a dirt path and ended up near an RV at 9 Cunningham Road, where Baker came out with a shotgun.

The victim said Baker accused him of vandalizing or burglarizing his property and began chasing him. The victim said he ran away in fear with Baker in pursuit.

In his own statement to deputies, Baker said he shot the victim because he heard him trying to break into his RV. However, deputies found the shotgun shell about 150 yards away from the RV, and there were no signs of an attempted break-in or any recent damage to the RV.

After a thorough investigation, Baker was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and booked overnight at the Volusia County Branch Jail.