Courtesy photo/Jail mug. Timothy Woulard Jr. of DeLand, shown here, is wanted on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the shooting of a DeLeon Springs man last September.
DELEON SPRINGS -- Volusia County Sheriff's deputies investigating the September 2009 fatal shooting in DeLeon Springs of a 33-year-old man have concluded that the killing was sparked by a drug deal that went bad, an agency spokesman said.
"With the accused trigger man, Timothy Woulard, Jr. of DeLand, nowhere to be found, investigators are hoping that up to $1,000 in reward money will cause someone to come forward with information that leads to the suspect's capture," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.
Deputies were initially dispatched to the area of Katrina Street in DeLeon Springs on the night of Sept. 26, 2009, after a resident reported hearing a commotion in the street. Deputies arrived minutes later, but the combatants were gone.
However, it didn't take long to find the victim. Approximately 15 minutes after the incident was first reported, staff at Florida Hospital DeLand called the Sheriff's Office to report that they were treating a gravely-injured man with a gunshot wound.
A friend had scooped up the unresponsive victim and driven him to the hospital. Chabelo Ramirez-Secundino was later transferred to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he died the next day, Davidson said.
The investigation by the Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit led them to the 23-year-old Woulard, who has denied involvement in the shooting.
However, investigators have recovered forensic evidence linking Woulard to the crime, Davidson said.
The Sheriff's Office presented its findings on Tuesday to Circuit Court Judge Patrick Kennedy, who issued an arrest warrant charging Woulard with first-degree murder.
Investigators, however, have been unable to locate him. Woulard is 5 feet 9 and weighs about 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last known to be living at 317 Chipola Ave.
Anyone with information regarding Woulard's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at 1-888-277-TIPS. Resident can also text a tip by texting "TIP231 plus the message" to CRIMES. Tipsters who provide information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000. Anyone who prefers to talk directly to a deputy can call the Sheriff's Office at 386-254-1537 However, only callers to Crime Stoppers will qualify for a reward.