Dayoshis Carter, a 19-year-old from Lakeland, FL, tragically died on September 29, 2016. His death occurred under dramatic circumstances involving a police chase and a subsequent suicide. On the night of October 5, 2016, Officer Derek Gulledge observed a vehicle that had cut him off in traffic. Upon running the vehicle's tag, it was discovered to be a stolen 2015 Nissan Altima.
Officer Gulledge, along with other officers, attempted to block the vehicle, but the driver, later identified as Dayoshis Carter, managed to evade them and fled to the Lakewood Terrace Apartments. After crashing the vehicle into a tree, Carter fled on foot and was later found hiding in an apartment. When officers entered the apartment, they heard a gunshot and found Carter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health in grave condition and later succumbed to his injuries.
Carter had a history of legal troubles, with a total of 13 arrests prior to his death. His criminal record included charges such as simple battery, resisting an officer, theft, disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, trespassing, aggravated assault with a weapon, and fleeing to elude an officer. On the night of his death, Carter was reportedly despondent and told his mother over the phone that he would rather kill himself than go back to jail.
The investigation into Carter's death revealed that he had been involved in a series of criminal activities leading up to the incident. The police chase and subsequent events were a culmination of his attempts to evade law enforcement. The two passengers who were with Carter at the time of the chase were taken into custody for questioning but were not charged with any crimes related to the incident. The case was classified as a suicide following the investigation, and no further arrests or litigations were reported in connection with Carter's death.
