Update: 18-Year-Old Arrested Following Shootout In Lake County, Charged In Murder Of Father In Deltona

Date Added: July 12, 2022 10:16 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

Update (9/1/22): Today, detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Jonny Santiago with 2nd degree murder (no bond) in the killing of his father, Juan Santiago.

Jonny Santiago, 18 (DOB 1/5/2004), of Deltona, remains in custody in the Lake County Jail facing several other felony charges, including 3 counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.

***

Update: The body of Juan Santiago was recovered Thursday in the area of Lake Avalon in Orange County, and charges are pending against Jonny Santiago.

A Thursday evening news briefing from Sheriff Chitwood is available here:

SUSPICIOUS DELTONA INCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION; SUSPECT WOUNDED IN SHOOTING IN MOUNT DORA

Volusia sheriff’s detectives are continuing to investigate a suspicious incident reported Sunday night in Deltona, with the person of interest now in custody following a Monday shootout with law enforcement in Mount Dora.

The Deltona investigation began just after 11 p.m. Sunday following a phone call from New York. The caller reported her husband was in Deltona with their 18-year-old son (Jonny Santiago, DOB 1/5/2004) at the couple’s home. She said earlier in the day, she’d been on the phone with her husband when she heard him arguing with Jonny, followed by a loud noise. Then the call disconnected, and she never heard from her husband again.

Deputies arrived at the house at 899 E. Lehigh Drive, Deltona, to find no one home and no vehicles present. The white 2021 Ford F-150 the suspect was known to drive was spotted in DeBary, where it fled from deputies. Regional and nationwide BOLOs were entered on the vehicle, which also fled from police in Sanford after leaving Volusia County.

Detectives continued to investigate the case and follow leads on the F-150 throughout the day, and just before 5 p.m. it was spotted in Lake County, where it again fled from law enforcement and ultimately crashed into a synagogue in Mount Dora. The suspect reportedly fired at police during the incident and was wounded by return fire. No law enforcement officers were injured, and the suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds.

As of this writing, the suspect’s father, 52-year-old Juan Santiago, has not been located or contacted, and his status is unknown.

The investigation is active and ongoing, and updates will be provided as they become available.