What started as an alleged armed carjacking in Daytona Beach yesterday ended with a wrecked getaway car, a roadside scramble, and four teenagers in handcuffs, according to local authorities. Officers said the chase wrapped up only after the stolen vehicle slammed into a road sign and became disabled. Two occupants were detained immediately, while two others ran before being tracked down. Police later reported finding a handgun, ski masks, and gloves inside the car.
How the chase unfolded
Daytona Beach police first sent out an alert about a vehicle reported stolen at gunpoint. A Port Orange officer later spotted the car pulling in behind a gas station on Clyde Morris Boulevard and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Investigators said the driver initially complied, then took off, triggering a pursuit that crossed city limits and drew assistance from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, according to WESH.
Who police say was inside
Daytona Beach police later identified the four people taken into custody as Terrez Thomas, 18, who officers say was driving, along with Ter'zarius Thomas, 16, Javari Ford, 16, and Cherod Butler, 15. All are listed as Daytona Beach residents. WFTV reports that all four face armed carjacking charges, and that the driver is also accused of fleeing and eluding.
On-foot searches and evidence recovered
Police said the pursuit came to an abrupt halt when the car hit a road sign and could no longer move. At that point, two occupants stayed with the vehicle while two others bolted on foot. A Volusia County deputy and a K-9 unit helped track down at least one of the fleeing teens, according to law enforcement officials. Officers reported recovering a Canik 9 mm handgun, ski masks, and gloves from inside the vehicle, as reported by WESH.
Charges and next steps
According to WFTV, all four teens were booked on armed carjacking counts, and investigators added a separate fleeing and eluding charge for the alleged driver. Officials had not yet released detailed booking information or court dates, with the case still being processed.
Why this matters locally
Cases involving armed vehicle thefts and fast-moving pursuits tend to pull in multiple agencies, and Volusia County officers have been dealing with similar scenarios in recent months. For a look at another local incident that spun into a multi-agency manhunt, see this report by Hoodline of an armed carjacking suspect found hiding in mangroves in Daytona Beach Shores.
