A Daytona Beach homicide suspect was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after fleeing Titusville police and crashing his vehicle into a pond at Sand Point Park on Monday.

The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Robert Reyes Jr., was wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Volusia County, according to the Titusville Police Department. Volusia County law enforcement alerted Titusville police on Monday, July 27, that Reyes was driving a gray Toyota four-door sedan within the city limits.

Using the city’s network of automated license plate readers, officers tracked the vehicle from the north end of Titusville to the south end, and back north again. Police eventually located Reyes at the intersection of South Washington Avenue and Garden Street.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Reyes fled east on A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway. He then veered off the roadway and into a pond inside Sand Point Park.

Titusville police, alongside the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, attempted to make contact with Reyes but received no response.

The TPD SWAT team subsequently approached the vehicle and found Reyes deceased inside. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident, and police confirmed that no officers used deadly force.

Preliminary evidence suggests Reyes died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a handgun was recovered from the vehicle. The Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office is working with TPD detectives and will make the final determination on the cause of death.

Titusville Interim Police Chief Tyler Wright credited the automated license plate reader technology and regional collaboration for quickly locating the suspect. “No single agency can do it alone. Today’s public safety environment demands collaboration, open communication, and the responsible use of technology,” Wright said. “It is a reminder that when we work together and leverage technology responsibly, we are better equipped to protect the communities we serve.”

The incident prompted an earlier statement from Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors, who also praised the police response and the city’s investment in public safety technology to keep the community safe.

Sources:
Official press release and update from the Titusville Police Department via Interim Chief Tyler Wright.
Official statement from Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors.