Key Takeaways
- A man survived an attack at Derbyshire Park by carrying a firearm during the encounter.
- A stranger approached him and a woman, leading to a disagreement and gunfire.
- The man returned fire, hitting the attacker, while he and the woman sought medical treatment.
- The police confirmed all parties involved have been identified, and there is no ongoing public threat.
- Being armed allowed the man to defend himself against an imminent threat, ultimately saving his life.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL. — A man is alive today because he was carrying a firearm when a stranger pulled a gun on him and the woman he was with at a city park.
The Daytona Beach Police Department says the encounter happened in the early morning hours of May 31 at Derbyshire Park, near Mason Avenue and Nova Road. Officers first responded to a local hospital after a man arrived with a gunshot wound, then traced the shooting back to the park.
According to the department, a man and a woman had met and parked together at the park when a man they did not know walked up to them. A disagreement followed. The stranger then pulled out a firearm.
The man drew his own gun and told the stranger to leave. The stranger started walking away. Then he turned and fired multiple rounds, striking the man.
The man returned fire and hit the attacker. He and the woman drove themselves to a hospital for treatment. Officers found the man who started the confrontation dead at the park.
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He did not go looking for this. He tried to end the encounter without firing and gave the aggressor a chance to walk away. When the stranger turned and shot him, he was facing an imminent threat to his life, and he had the means to answer it.
Police say all parties have been identified and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. The motive remains unclear, identities are being withheld and no charges have been announced.
Without a firearm of his own, this man had no way to stop someone who had already shown he was willing to kill. Being armed is what let him survive an attack he did not start.
