VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – During a news conference on Tuesday, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood showed body camera video that showed when a deputy was shot twice in Deltona while investigating a vandalism case.
Deputy Jose Rivera was shot in the leg and shoulder on Candler Drive when 31-year-old Luis Diaz Polanco pulled a gun and fired at him, according to the sheriff’s office.
[BELOW: Chitwood reveals body-camera footage of deputy shooting]
One of the bullets struck Rivera’s body camera, which was at the center of his chest.
“Thank God for his body camera, takes a round dead center in through the body camera, which we believe then ricochets through his shoulder,” Chitwood said during a news conference at the shooting scene.
Chitwood also said the accused shooter told detectives he had every intention of shooting deputies and would have killed them if he had not run out of ammunition.
[WATCH: Body-cameras footage shows deputy being shot (WARNING video may be disturbing)]
Chitwood explained that the incident first kicked off early in the morning when a “young lady” arrived at the home along Candler Drive to pick up Polanco’s mother to go work.
However, Polanco came out of the house, an “altercation” ensued, and he began damaging the car in response, the sheriff continued.
Rivera and his trainee, Deputy Gomez Lopez, had arrived to Polanco’s home after Polanco’s mother reported that he had become violent earlier in the day.
When the deputies approached the door, Polanco answered while holding a box, sheriff’s officials said. After deputies asked him to put the box down and step outside, he slammed the door and locked it.
[WATCH BELOW: Bodycam takes direct hit as Volusia deputy is shot twice during battery investigation, sheriff says]
Rivera instructed Lopez to go to the back of the home in case Polanco attempted to flee. Moments later, a gun fight ensued between Polanco and Rivera when the suspect pulled a gun from the box and fired at the deputy, Chitwood said.
The exchange of gunfire happened at a distance of about 6 feet, Chitwood said. Rivera fired four to six rounds, and investigators believe Polanco fired a similar number of gunshots.
[WATCH BELOW: Sheriff Mike Chitwood gives update on deputy]
Rivera was taken to a hospital, where he was in “great spirits” and recovering, according to Chitwood.
Polanco faces two counts of attempted murder.
After the gunfire, neighbors say Rivera didn’t just take cover.
Lou Massino, a mail carrier, said his mother lives just a few doors down from where the shooting happened. He said Rivera knocked on her door shortly after being shot.
“She sees it’s an officer, so she answers, and the guy’s bleeding from his arm and his leg, and he says, ‘Stay in the house.’ Once he got down to the end of the driveway, she saw other police, ambulance, helicopter,” Massino said.
Massino said he first heard about the shooting during a meeting at work involving the postal carrier who delivers to that street.
“One of the carriers I know, John, the guy flicked a cigarette at him, and I guess he just kind of took off like this guy is crazy, you know? Then, after that, I guess he called the police,” Massino said.
The gun used in this case was legally purchased by someone in Sanford, Chitwood stated, though investigators are still trying to figure out how it got into Polanco’s hands.
According to court records, Polanco was previously arrested in 2023 and 2024 on charges of leaving the scene of a crash and battery on a person 65 years of age or older. He pleaded no contest in the crash case, and charges were dropped in the battery case.
On Tuesday, Chitwood also revealed that Polanco had previously been arrested after pointing a firearm at someone on July 4 in Sanford.
“The description of that firearm... matches what happened in Sanford on July 4,” Chitwood said.
Polanco on Tuesday appeared in court, where a judge ordered him to be held on no bond.
Meanwhile, Chitwood said Rivera could be released from the hospital as soon as Wednesday.
Back on Candler Drive, neighbors say they are grateful the shooting wasn’t worse. Bullets hit a mailbox, and Massino said there is a playground just behind it.
“There’s a kid’s playground right there. There’s a dog park behind that. And a lot of people attend that park. A lot of people walk dogs and bring their kids. And yeah, it’s pretty scary, you got a psycho down the street doing that,” Massino said.