'Person of interest' arrested in drive-by shooting in Daytona Beach that left man dead
Police have named 29-year-old Devonte Smokes of Daytona Beach as a "person of interest" in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting in Daytona Beach Wednesday afternoon that took place at a busy intersection.
The shooting occurred near Bellevue Avenue and South Nova Road at 1:48 p.m., police said. Smokes was arrested on unrelated charges.
The victim in the shooting death was Taj Butler, 24, of Palm Coast, according to Daytona Beach police Sgt. Tim Ehrenkaufer.
Police said Butler was driving southbound on Nova Road along with a passenger.
While stopped at a red light at South Nova Road and Bellevue, a dark-colored Kia pulled next to the victim's vehicle and the occupants fired several rounds before fleeing.
Butler was hit multiple times, police said. He was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center where he died, Ehrenkaufer said.
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"Unfortunately, the victim has succumbed to his injuries, and we are now treating this as a homicide," Ehrenkaufer said.
Police on Wednesday released a traffic video showing the black Kia speeding away shortly after the shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call Det. Collin Howell at 386-671-5257.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Man killed in Daytona Beach drive-by- shooting
