Deltona Homeowner Catches Car Burglar, Shoots Him in the Knee

Date Added: April 21, 2020 5:41 pm

Laura Williams, Office of
Public Affairs & Media Relations

DELTONA HOMEOWNER CATCHES CAR BURGLAR, SHOOTS HIM
Suspect, 39, Recovering in Custody at Hospital

Two Deltona men are in custody, including one who is recovering from a gunshot wound to his knee after he was spotted rifling through a resident’s car just before 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The 57-year-old homeowner, who lives in the 1000 block of Abagail Drive, Deltona, told a dispatcher that he saw someone using a flashlight inside his green Nissan Altima about 3:45 a.m. The homeowner grabbed his Glock firearm and a flashlight and ran to confront the suspect. When confronted, the suspect shoved the homeowner, knocking him to the ground as the two men struggled.

During the scuffle, the homeowner saw the suspect reach for his backpack, prompting the homeowner to fire his handgun at the suspect. The homeowner knew his bullet hit the burglar, but he didn’t know where. The suspect, later identified as Justin Lee Braddock, 39 (DOB 07/10/1980), fled from the scene. Moments later, a white SUV picked up Braddock and drove off.

The homeowner immediately called law enforcement to report the car burglary and shooting. Less than a half hour later, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office learned that a male gunshot victim had shown up at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. Deputies responded and confirmed the vehicle Braddock arrived in was the same white SUV he used to leave the car break scene.  

Braddock was driven to the hospital by a man and a woman, identified as Darrell Ray Cantrell, 30 (DOB 09/01/1989), and Amy Eland, both of Deltona. After interviewing the pair, detectives determined Cantrell worked with Braddock while committing car burglaries and serving as the lookout and getaway driver, and lying to deputies. Cantrell is charged with burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary of a conveyance and obstruction of criminal investigation. He remains at the Seminole County Jail with bail of $16,500.

Deputies determined Eland’s only involvement was to help stop Braddock’s bleeding by using a belt as a tourniquet as they drove him to the hospital. 

Braddock underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon and is recovering in the custody of Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies at the hospital. He is charged with burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary of a conveyance and battery to cause bodily harm with bail set at $30,000.