Police identify shooter in fatal Deltona road rage incident

The shooter in a road rage confrontation that left a man dead in Deltona last month has been identified in an incident report.

Jared R. Crawford, 43, shot and killed Kenyon Ashley on April 18, according to the report.

The investigation indicated that Crawford fired in self-defense when Ashley raised his firearm, according to a previous release from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

The case is still under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. Crawford has not been charged with a crime.

There have been other reports of road rage this year. On Jan. 31, two people were wounded in a road rage shooting on Interstate 4 in Volusia County. The shooter drove away. No arrests have been made in that incident.

In February, a Deltona man pulled a gun and threatened a teenage girl who was learning to drive with her father, according to the sheriff's office. Mark Vierra, 59, of Deltona, was arrested and charged in that case.

Deltona fatal road rage shooting

The brief incident report involving Crawford and Ashley states that deputies responded to 321 Fisher Drive in Deltona in reference to a shooting at 9:17 p.m. on April 18.

Arriving deputies saw Crawford "standing in the road with blood on him,” the incident report stated. Deputies secured Crawford.

Deputies saw Ashley on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. A paramedic pronounced him dead at 9:23 p.m., the report stated.

The 37-year-old Ashley was a resident of Deltona, according to the report.

Crawford, who said he lives in Deltona, declined to comment Tuesday when reached by a News-Journal reporter.

The sheriff’s office stated a day after the shooting that the shooter fired in self-defense and was not arrested.

However, the sheriff’s office declined to provide any other records related to the case, stating it remained an open investigation.

What happened before deadly Deltona road rage shooting?

Crawford remained at the scene of the shooting.

Crawford told deputies that he had passed a white Dodge Charger that had slowed down ahead of him on DeBary Avenue, the sheriff's office stated.

After he passed, he said the Charger, with its high beams on, started following him closely.

Crawford said the Charger eventually backed off but it reappeared when he turned off Providence Boulevard onto Fisher Drive, according to the sheriff's office release the day after the shooting.

Crawford said the Charger sped up, pulled alongside and then got in front of him, cutting him off, according to the sheriff's office.

According to Crawford, Ashley got out and approached him, yelling as he held a firearm.

Crawford said he feared for his life when he saw Ashley raising his firearm and Crawford said he fired several times, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office stated an account from an "independent witness" matched that of the Crawford's.

The witness said he saw Ashley approach Crawford and point a gun at him, according to the sheriff's office.

The witness said he heard Crawford say multiple times something like "I don't want any problems." The witness then said he heard multiple gunshots.

The witness said he saw Crawford try to render aid to Ashley.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shooter in Deltona fatal road rage incident identified