SM Gibson

March 4, 2014

(ANTIMEDIA) Deltona, FL — A 26-year-old man, Derek Cruice, was shot in the face in a Deltona home on Wednesday morning by a Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy. The victim was rushed to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial Hospital in Orange City as a trauma alert. Cruice succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead after arrival.

Deputies, along with a SWAT team, were attempting to serve a narcotics search warrant around 6:30am at the home, according to investigators. Police claim that Cruice advanced on a member of the SWAT team when an officer discharged his weapon.

“Volusia County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators and the Street Crimes Unit were attempting to serve a search warrant at a residence. They were met with resistance and a shooting occurred,” Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson said.

Investigators stated that Cruice was shot in the face while standing in his doorway.

Five other people were inside of the residence at the time of the raid. No one else sustained any injuries.

Two men — who asked not to be identified — that were inside of the home at the time, contradicted the Deputy’s version of events. They both insisted that Cruice did not threaten or even resist the officer.

“That is completely a lie. I was there; I watched the whole thing. There was no advancement. There was no reaching for anything. The guy was wearing basketball shorts like I am. It’s kind of hard to conceal anything or hide anything when this is all you have on,” said one of the men, who was speaking with WESH 2 in Orlando.

There were no firearms or narcotics found or present in the home, according to the men.

Deputy Todd Raible, 36, the officer who pulled the trigger that took Derek’s life, was uninjured in the incident, but was said to be “shaken”. He has been placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law enforcement investigates the killing.

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