A Connecticut man firing over 200 rounds at homes and police in a Florida condominium complex was killed by a sheriff’s sniper Thursday, ending a five-hour standoff. No one else was injured, as reported by Fox News.
Joseph DiFusco, 56, died after being shot by a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office sniper. The incident unfolded at the Kingston Shores condominiums near Ormond-by-the-Sea.
The confrontation began around 4 am when deputies responded to DiFusco’s report of suicidal thoughts. He refused medical transport. Two hours later, deputies returned after DiFusco allegedly started shooting at nearby residences and officers.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, “Probably fired over 200 rounds. [You could] hear bullets whizzing over our heads, and we were 100 yards back.”
Chitwood said deputies had previously visited the complex three times. He added that DiFusco, a “snowbird”—someone who migrates to warmer climates during winter—may have used firearms brought from out of state and refused to negotiate. “He was not going to negotiate. Every time we would try to negotiate, he would fire on us. [He] turned off his phone. He was armed to the teeth,” Chitwood said.
DiFusco’s family contacted authorities prior to the incident, expressing fear for their safety. “They were so scared of him, they were sleeping in a car,” Chitwood said. He also mentioned that DiFusco had reportedly stopped taking his medication and hadn’t slept for days.
Neighbors were evacuated during the standoff. Authorities confirmed DiFusco had barricaded himself inside his rental unit with at least three guns. Photos from the scene show the building’s exterior peppered with bullet holes.
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