UPDATE - MAY 13: The victim who died in the Curaleaf parking lot is identified as 25-year-old Joshua Goodman, listed as living Casselberry. You can see a short clip of redacted security video of the incident by clicking here.
Daytona Beach, FL - Police have identified a person of interest in a homicide case that was also involved in a fatal crash in Orlando.
According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, that person of interest is 29-year-old Willie Walker, who is wanted for questioning in regards to a shooting that took place last night.
Daytona Police Chief Craig Capri spoke live to reporters this afternoon (May 12th) and revealed that officers were called to the Curaleaf dispensary off of International Speedway Boulevard around 5 p.m. yesterday (May 11th) with reports of a gunshot victim.
When officers arrived they found a male with three gunshot wounds to the torso. Units attempted CPR before he was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he passed away.
No motive has been nailed down yet. However, Chief Capri said he thinks the incident might be related to narcotics. And, while the supposed narcotics-related shooting took place near a cannabis shop, he believes they are unrelated.
Later on, officers were able to secure footage from the nearby store and found the suspect vehicle – a 2019 Kia sedan with a blue paint job and a Georgia license plate. Reports say that police supposedly found the vehicle just a few minutes later, but the car was able to slip away and eventually flee. The search continued throughout the night until DBPD received reports that the car might be headed towards the Orlando area.
Shortly after an alert was issued for the car, it was spotted in Orlando thanks to a license plate reader.
Around that time is also when officers labeled Walker a person of interest. Chief Capri commented on Walker at their press conference.
"(He) has a horrible criminal history, your typical street thug," said Capri. "A real violent street thug that would kill any one of us here without thinking about it."
Orlando police eventually found the car again this afternoon. Once the vehicle was spotted, it took off and almost immediately crashed into another vehicle just a few minutes later on Rio Grande Avenue.
Authorities report that a 70-year-old woman was in the other vehicle. She was killed as a result of the crash. Chief Capri additionally noted that Walker and another person was found inside of the vehicle.
A handgun was also recovered in the vehicle and detectives are in Orlando working with police to determine who was in that vehicle and if they’re involved in last night’s homicide.
Florida Highway Patrol is currently in possession of the car as they investigate the fatal crash. Chief Capri stated that he plans to secure a search warrant so Daytona Beach police may try to search for other evidence that might be in the car.
Capri also noted that investigators have yet to talk to Walker, as he and the other occupant of the Kia remain in the hospital with serious injuries.
Charges have yet to be filed in this case. The victim killed in the accident has also not been identified by law enforcement.
