Officers from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office received and returned fire from an armed carjacker recently in Florida. The suspect, who shot and wounded one officer, received fatal gunshot wounds during the exchange.
Sergeant Thomas Dane received a grazing gunshot wound to the head during the gunfight, according to a report published on the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. In total, five deputies fired at the suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Phillip Thomas Marsh. Authorities believed Marsh fired several shots at deputies during the gunfight, according to Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Confront Armed Carjacker
The incident began when the suspect allegedly carjacked a vehicle, pointing a gun at the truck owner. The suspect then fled from police, at one point allegedly swerving to attempt to hit a deputy who was deploying stop sticks, according to Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Officer body cam footage shows when the suspect abandons the truck after stop sticks pop all four tires. Footage clearly shows the suspect run across the highway, firing upon officers before fleeing into the woods. Further, the video shows officers team up and move into the brush, where they locate and fire at the suspect, hitting him multiple times.
Once in custody, the suspect received first aid on scene. Authorities then transported Marsh to a local hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Marsh had been reported missing and suicidal earlier in the week. Also, he made threats of “suicide by cop,” which he seemingly carried out in a wild shootout.
“Everything that they did was to try to preven what happened – knowing that this was probably what was going to happen, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “I know tonight when I go home, I’ll be saying a prayer thanking the good Lord that Sgt. Dane will be back to work real soon.”
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