Deputy Shoots Armed Robber, Accomplice Still On The Run

Deresha Armstrong (Orange County Sheriff's Office / Courtesy photo)


 

In case you missed it: An Orange County deputy shot and killed a 27-year-old woman who was a suspected armed robber off West Colonial Drive last Thursday afternoon in Florida, Sheriff Jerry Demings said. But that’s not before a local homeowner exchanged gunfire with the two robbers as they fled from another home in the area.

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A homeowner called deputies just after 2:30 p.m. to report he could see two burglars in his Delhi Street home through a remote video surveillance system.

By the time deputies got to the home four minutes later, the two suspected burglars ran out of the home and started running west, Demings said.

A deputy who was searching the area about one block from the home saw another homeowner confronting possible suspects. That homeowner, Thomas D. Miller, 61, and one of the suspects exchanged gunfire, during which the homeowner received an injury to his leg, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Rose Silva said.

That’s when acting Sgt. Vernon Brown shot and killed 26-year-old Deresha Armstrong off West Colonial Drive around 2:30 p.m. Armstrong was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her alleged accomplice got away, authorities said.

Deputies say Armstrong was a suspect in a burglary in the 600 block of Delhi Street.

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Brown has been with the department for 21 years and was not hurt in the shooting.

The man whose home the burglars are accused of breaking into did not want to be identified, but said it’s a shame that somebody died.

“I don’t respect anyone who breaks in my house,” said the homeowner.

Deputies released a photo of the gun Armstrong had on her when deputies confronted her.

Sheriff Jerry Demings didn’t say if she fired or pointed the gun, or if the suspect who is still on the run could be armed.

He did say his deputies are seeing more violence on the job and have to react.

“They’re here to protect their lives as well as the lives of other people and, unfortunately, sometimes we do have to use deadly force to protect ourselves or other people,” Demings said.

Deputies recovered a handgun near where Armstrong fell.

No deputies were injured.

The male suspect remains at large.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an investigation.

Orange County court records show Armstrong pleaded no contest in February to carrying a concealed weapon.

She also has previous convictions dating back to age 16 on charges ranging from battery to possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deresha Armstrong (Orange County Sheriff's Office / Courtesy photo)
Deresha Armstrong (Orange County Sheriff’s Office / Courtesy photo)
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