New video released Monday shows gunfire from a shootout between a man and Seminole County deputies in Winter Park, in which one deputy was shot and the suspect was critically injured.

Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said he released video of the Oct. 1 shootout because he wanted people to see how everything went down as a gunman opened fire in the middle of rush-hour traffic on Semoran Boulevard.

Investigators said when deputies tried to pull over 21-year-old Christian Joy for possible involvement in burglaries in Altamonte Springs, they quickly realized Joy was not going to give up without a fight.

After Joy's car rammed a deputy cruiser and other cars along Wymore Road, near I-4, deputies backed off, but a sheriff's helicopter kept a close eye on Joy from above.

Video recorded from the helicopter, released Monday, showed what investigators said was Joy taking a 16-minute-long reckless ride through Seminole County and into Orange County.

"The defendant had total disregard for the safety of the traveling public," Sheriff Eslinger said.

Deputies said Joy stopped his car on Semoran Boulevard at Aloma Avenue, where a female passenger, later identified as Emmalee French, jumped out and took off running.

Investigators said Joy did the same thing and then started shooting at deputies closing in on him.

One of those shots hit Deputy Brian Mahan in his ankle, but the sheriff said Mahan didn't flinch. Instead, Mahan and another deputy returned fire, shooting Joy about eight times.


Left: Christian Joy, Right: Seminole Co. Deputy Brian Mahan. (Seminole Co. Sheriff's Office)

With dozens of cars at the intersection and many people around, Eslinger said deputies had to neutralize a major threat to the public.

"They both put themselves in harm's way to do that, and I believe they saved lives," Eslinger said. "He was so desperate. Without their intervention, who knows what he would have done next?"

Eslinger said he was thankful neither his deputies, nor anyone else in the area was seriously hurt.

"They're just so happy they can go back to their families," Eslinger. "Total relief that no one lost their life in this."

Mahan was treated and later released from the hospital for the gunshot to his ankle.

Joy was critically injured and charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. His passenger, French, was also apprehended and arrested.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office found more than $25,000 worth of drugs in Joy's car.