An armed robbery suspect was fatally shot by Volusia County deputies Sunday afternoon after he reportedly wielded a knife during a traffic stop.

  • Incident began as a reported armed robbery
  • 3 Volusia deputies fired at suspect
  • Female driver taken into custody

The armed robbery was reported around 12:30 p.m. at the Park-N-Ride located along Saxon Boulevard in Orange City.

The victims reported their wallets were stolen at gunpoint, and they provided a suspect and suspect vehicle description.

At 12:51 p.m., a deputy conducted a traffic stop about 10 miles away in DeLand. The driver of the vehicle, Erin Casey Finney, 24, complied with law enforcement and was taken into custody.

The passenger, Donald Edward Brown, 32, refused to show his hands and refused comply with the deputies' orders before three deputies fired their weapons. A knife was located in the suspect's hand after the shooting, deputies said.

Finney has been charged with principal to armed robbery (by the Orange City Police Department) and felon murder (by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office). She was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on no bond.

The three deputies who fired their weapons weren't injured. They have been identified as Sgt. Justin Stewart, 32; Deputy Brandon Coker, 28; and Deputy Joshua Green, 24.

"Their training kicks in," said Andrew Gant, a spokesman with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. "Nobody wants to be involved in this kind of situation, but these deputies also have family they want to go home to at night."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shootings. The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following deputy-involved shootings.

The robbery is being investigated by the Orange City Police Department.