DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Police confirmed through a press release that a man was shot to death Saturday. The press release, dated Dec. 1, was sent to Headline Surfer 5:45 p.m. Sunday after Headline Surfer complained it was excluded from the original release given to other media outlets when the news was breaking and wrote a story about it.
No explanation was given for Headline Surfer's exclusion in the email that was sent Sunday night with the original press release attached that was given to the other local media outlets Saturday when the homicide was breaking news.
The release states police were "dispatched to the 600 block of Verdell Street after a witness heard a gunshot and observed a male lying in the street. Upon arrival, officers found the victim and confirmed he was deceased. It is still very early in the investigation, but detectives from the Robbery/Homicide Unit are on scene and have begun an investigation into the man’s death."
The snapshot at left shows DBPD emailing Headline Surfer a press release that was given to other local media outlets on Saturday when news of a homicide was breaking.
The Saturday press release continued, "At this time we are unable to confirm the decedent’s identity other than he appears to be an adult black male. Details surrounding the man’s death will not be available until Monday when an autopsy will be conducted by the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office. In the meantime, anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Bridget Hayden at 386-671-5263 or Crimestoppers of Volusia County at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477)."
Here is a link to our initial story Sunday night on the Daytona Beach homicide headlined, Daytona Beach PD does not respond to media inquiry regarding man murdered: Saturday http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410798-daytona-beach-pd-does-not-respond-media-inquiry-regarding-man-murdered-saturday