On July 12, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Daytona Beach, Florida, resulting in the deaths of three men, including a 64-year-old named John Birch. The shooting took place in a neighborhood on Park Drive near Martin Luther King Boulevard around 6:30 a.m.
John Birch, who lived across the street from the suspect, Jerome Lloyd Anderson, was found shot multiple times in the street outside Anderson's home.
Birch was one of the three victims, along with Antone Desmon Melvin, 42, who lived with Anderson, and Patrick Lasseter, 35, a homeless individual known to frequent the neighborhood. Melvin was found inside the home with a gunshot wound in the kitchen, while Lasseter was also found in the street, shot multiple times, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Park Drive.
Anderson, 38, called 911 following the shooting and claimed he was acting in self-defense. When police arrived, they found Anderson holding a cellphone and a handgun. Officers managed to arrest him without further violence after ordering him to put the gun down.
The incident also involved a fourth victim who was shot at but managed to run away. Police do not believe this individual was hurt by the gunfire but are seeking to locate him to potentially recommend additional charges against Anderson.
Anderson faces three counts of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated battery and tampering with a witness prior to this arrest.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, but Anderson's claim of self-defense will be a key point to be argued in court.
