ORMOND BEACH --The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a home invasion robbery near Ormond Beach late Wednesday night, during which two of the residents were pistol-whipped before their vehicle was stolen and later found crashed.
Two men armed with guns had burst in through the home’s front door and held several victims at gunpoint and then stole the keys to a victim’s truck, Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. A couple of victims were pistol whipped during the confrontation, but no shots were fired and no one was seriously injured. The robbers took off in the stolen vehicle, but wrecked a short time later, fled on foot and are still at large, he said.
The robbery was reported to the Sheriff’s Office a few minutes before 10 p.m. from 17 Margaret Road. Two of the victims live at that address while about four others were friends visiting from South Carolina for Spring Break.
"They said that two black men with their faces covered burst in through the front door brandishing guns and ordered everyone to the floor," Haught said. "The robbers pistol whipped at least two victims during the altercation and then stole the keys to a victim’s truck and at least one victim‘s wallet. The robbers drove away in the vehicle, but were seen by Ormond Beach Police Department officers just a few minutes later in their jurisdiction. Officers pursued the truck a short distance until it crashed into a tree near the intersection of Flomich Street and Riverside Drive. Both suspects then fled on foot."
A search of the area by Sheriff’s Office deputies, Ormond Beach Police Department officers, Holly Hill Police Department officers, K-9 units and a Sheriff’s Office helicopter turned up empty.
One suspect was described as 6 feet tall with a thin build and the other man was about 5 feet 7. They both wore all black clothing and shorts.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 323-0162 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. Tipsters can also provide information by texting “TIP231 plus the message” to CRIMES. Anyone who provides information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000