New Smyrna Beach cops: Suspected robber shoots himself in chest after gas station robbery

Marathon gas station in New Smyrna Beach, FL.NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / The Marathon gas station in New Smyrna Beach was robbed by a lone gunman Monday night who shot himself a short time later when police tried to arrest him.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 24-year-old man was undergoing surgery this morning after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot when police tried to arrest him overnight after he allegedly robbed the Marathon gas station, 620 N. Dixie Freeway.

The gunman was identified as William Redmond who was being treated at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Police received a 9-1-1 call at 9:37 p.m. that a man armed with a gun walked into the Marathon and demanded money, before fleeing in a gold-colored Ford Taurus. Based on a description of the vehicle by the clerk who was unharmed, police spotted it about an hour later in the 300 block of North Orange Avenue.

"When officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, he shot himself in the chest," patrol Sgt. John Kosorok said.

Kosorok said the gunman was tasered when he refused to put the gun down and after he fell to the ground, shot himself in the chest with a .38-caliber handgun. He was conscious when he was transported from the scene to the hospital, Kosorok said, adding Redmond will be charged with armed robbery.