Man killed by deputies after firing shots outside Airbnb in Ormond-by-the-Sea: Sheriff's office
ORLANDO, Fla. - A veteran and convicted felon from Connecticut open fired from inside an Airbnb condominium on Thursday, prompting a standoff with deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, according to investigators.
That standoff at the Kingston Shores Condominiums near Ormond-by-the-Sea ended when a sheriff’s office sniper fatally shot the suspect, identified as Joseph Difusco. The ordeal lasted over five hours, with Difusco barricaded in his rental unit, armed with at least three guns, authorities said.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said deputies first encountered Difusco around 4 a.m. after he reported having suicidal thoughts but declined medical transport. Two hours later, deputies were called back when Difusco began firing into neighboring units and at responding law enforcement officers.
"Probably fired over 200 rounds," Chitwood said. "[You could] hear bullets whizzing over our heads, and we were 100 yards back."
Sheriff Chitwood said deputies conducted three previous visits to the condominium, including a well-being check.
"He was not going to negotiate. Every time we would try to negotiate, he would fire on us. {He] turned off his phone. He was armed to the teeth," the sheriff explained.
Credit: VCSO
Residents described the chaos as bullets tore through units.
"I heard gunshots and thought it was fireworks," said Jason Valiant, a neighbor who evacuated. "Then neighbors started texting, saying it was real."
MORE STORIES:
- Man killed by deputies after firing shots outside Airbnb in Ormond-by-the-Sea: Sheriff's office
- Strange smell stalls cargo delivery for astronauts on International Space Station
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade recap: Balloons, wet weather and dozens of protesters arrested
- Seminole County judge suspended for inappropriate behavior in courtroom
- Hurricane victims spending Thanksgiving in tents as heat, electricity, food still hard to find
Valiant shared videos of the scene with FOX 35 News, recounting negotiations over a megaphone.
"‘Joe, please don’t shoot! Please stop!’ That’s what I heard them say."
Sheriff Chitwood said Difusco’s family had reached out to law enforcement before the incident, expressing fear for their safety.
"They were so scared of him, they were sleeping in a car," Chitwood said, noting that Difusco had reportedly stopped taking his medication and hadn’t slept in days.
Despite the volume of gunfire, no one else was injured. Sheriff Chitwood called it "truly amazing" that there were no additional casualties.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX 35 News app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV