Deputy/Police-Involved Shooting 10/31/18

DEPUTY INVOLVED IN PORT ORANGE SHOOTING OF ARMED SUSPECT A Volusia County sheriff’s deputy and Port Orange police fired at an armed suspect outside a Port Orange 7-Eleven on Wednesday night after the suspect pointed a gun at his head and at law enforcement. The suspect was discovered to have a gunshot wound to the head and was later pronounced dead. The shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. at the 7-Eleven at 1632 Taylor Road. The suspect, a 32-year-old Port Orange man, was spotted there by law enforcement following up on a report that he had threatened a woman who was the victim in his recent arrest on a charge of aggravated stalking. The suspect fled from Holly Hill police shortly before he was spotted in Port Orange. He was in grave condition on scene and was transported by Air One to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he was pronounced dead. An FDLE investigation is underway as is standard in these cases, and the deputy is being placed on administrative leave, which is also standard. Additional information will be released as it becomes available. Update: The deceased in last night’s shooting incident is John Wurms, age 32 (DOB 8/6/1986). The deputy involved is Devin Lafoucade, age 24 (hire date 12/7/2017). The suspect in this case, John Wurms, had a documented history of domestic violence cases and injunctions dating back to 2008. A summary of some of the recent cases: In July 2018, Port Orange police responded to a call about a suicidal person, John Wurms. His girlfriend reported that he wanted to kill himself. The police report stated: “John told (his girlfriend) that he was too afraid to take his own life, but if police attempted to make contact with him, he would take out his handgun that he keeps in his dashboard and point it at police in an effort to have police take his life.” On Oct. 27, DeLand police received a report that the new boyfriend of an ex-girlfriend of Wurms had 11 tires slashed on vehicles at his residence. On Oct. 28, Holly Hill police received a report from the ex-girlfriend that Wurms was harassing and threatening her. An officer parked outside her home and spotted Wurms at her residence, apparently in the process of preparing to slash her tires. He was arrested on charges of aggravated stalking and loitering and prowling, and an injunction for protection was issued. On Oct. 31 (last night), the father of the new boyfriend reported that Wurms was again threatening to come back and slash more tires. Holly Hill police had also developed information that Wurms was armed and planning on harming someone. Around 10:37 p.m. Wednesday, Holly Hill police were at the ex-girlfriend’s residence when they spotted Wurms. He fled and was later spotted at the 7-Eleven in Port Orange where the shooting took place.