DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a "Blue Alert" for a man suspected in the shooting a Daytona Beach police officer late Wednesday night, sparking a massive manhunt.  

What You Need To Know

  • Multiple agencies are on the hunt for 29-year-old Othal Wallace, accused of shooting Daytona Beach cop

  • Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood says that Wallace "should be considered armed & dangerous"

  • A $100,000 reward has been offered for information that results in the capture of Wallace

  • LIVE UPDATES: Scroll down for updates from our reporters covering this developing story

On-ramps to Interstate 95 and Interstate 4 in Daytona Beach were closed off on Wednesday night into Thursday morning as a multi-agency manhunt, including U.S. marshals, was underway for 29-year-old Othal Wallace, who is accused of shooting the officer.

Officials identified the wounded officer late Thursday afternoon as 26-year-old Jason Raynor.

At least two dozen Florida Highway Patrol troopers were also involved in the search, which by Thursday afternoon had extended outside of Volusia County. Sheriff's officials the night before had released the description of a car thought to be driven by Wallace, but the FDLE pushed out that information as a public service alert to Floridians' mobile devices Thursday. 

According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, the officer at about 9 p.m. Wednesday radioed that he was at 133 Kingston Ave. and was investigating a suspicious incident.

After several minutes, the officer was no longer responding to his radio, so other units were dispatched to the scene.

When they arrived, they reported finding the officer on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. The officer was taken to Halifax Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition. 

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young said early Thursday that the officer had a fairly successful surgery and was showing some improvement, but it will be a long road to recovery. 

The officer's mother is by his side at the hospital, Young said. 

"Knowing him, if he were to pull through this, this cop would do everything in his power to get back on the job and to continue serving the citizens of this community. And he would do so with zero hatred or malice in his heart," Young said of the officer, who the department said had worked there for three years.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a tweet that there will be a public vigil for the wounded officer at 3:30 p.m. at Halifax Medical Center.

Chitwood tweeted Wednesday night that there was a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of the shooter. He also said the suspect could be driving a gray 2016 Honda HRV with California tag 7TNX-532.

Chitwood warned that Wallace "should be considered armed & dangerous."

Young said that a search warrant was issued for an apartment that Wallace's family lives in on Kingston Avenue, where they found multiple weapons and rifle rounds.

Law enforcement issued a county-wide lockdown late Wednesday night for several hours while officers searched for the shooter. 

Neighbor Rose McNair said she heard the gunshot that hurt the officer. 

"I just heard the gunshot, "she recalled. "(Police) wouldn't let nobody in, nobody out."

“This neighborhood, something needs to change, I don’t want to live here ... when you feel scared to walk out of your house, there’s something wrong,” said Kathy Atkins, another neighbor. 

Anyone with information on the location of Othal Wallace is urged to call 911 immediately.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Live Updates

 

-

Facebook Twitter