The Flagler County man accused of shooting at a deputy and his own family is now in the Flagler County jail after turning himself in Tuesday night.

Phillip Haire Jr., 19, was brought from Putnam County back to the Flagler jail before noon. He was driven into the county jail's metal-barbed wire gate by deputies with extra security.

The Sheriff's Office SUV he was brought in was escorted by a K-9 unit. The agency said it was to ensure the safety of the community and members of the department who were part of the transport from Putnam County. 

"We just wanted to make sure we didn't have any problems of somebody trying to help him escape," said Sheriff Rick Staly.

Haire made his first appearance in Putnam on Wednesday morning and learned he's facing multiple charges, which include attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and carjacking.

Deputies say Haire drove by his family's house twice on Monday and opened fire on a Sheriff's sergeant and his own family. He then took off, later carjacking a good Samaritan who'd stopped to help Haire as he sat on the side of the road.

"I was angry that he went to that extent. You have to be angry that he went to that," said Jeneen Haire, mother of the suspect.

“We put a lot of pressure on his known associates, making arrests, search warrants at various locations, and I think the pressure got to him,” Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said.

Haire's mother made a plea for him to turn himself in. She said Wednesday morning she’s thankful he did. 

"I wanted him to turn himself in and he did it. I asked him if he was watching the news, and he said, 'No, Mama, I just wanted to turn myself in.' I said, 'OK, that's all I wanted you to do is just turn yourself in,'" Jeneen Haire said.

Sheriff Staly said they decided to put Haire in solitary confinement once he arrived.

"He displayed behavior in the Putnam County jail and we believe he is not going to be a cooperative detainee," Staly said. "So we're going to keep him in a solitary confinement and we're not going to play games with him. He'll be treated fairly, he'll be fed, he'll get his time in recreation yard we're required to, but he's going to stay in closed confinement." 

Staly said Haire may have been part of a gang called Gangster Disciples, and they're still looking into leads of who may have helped him while he was on the run.

But the sheriff said he's now facing so many charges he'll be locked away for a long time.

Haire is charged with:

  • Aggravated Assault with firearm
  • Carjacking with firearm
  • Burglary while armed with firearm
  • Shooting into occupied dwelling
  • Discharging a firearm from vehicle
  • Aggravated Assault on law enforcement officer
  • Attempted second-degree murder of law enforcement officer

"We have prevented him from hurting anyone else. Hopefully he'll stay in our jail, then go off to state prison where he belongs," said Staly.

Haire Jr. will have his first appearance in Flagler Thursday morning.

As for the car deputies say he carjacked, they said Haire hasn't given them information on where to find it. They hope to find it and return it to the victim.

Reporter Jerry Hume contributed to this story.