Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Police said three men died following a shooting in Daytona Beach on Wednesday morning.

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Officers responded to Park Drive near South Martin Luther King Boulevard around 6:30 a.m.

Initially, a Daytona Beach Police Department spokesperson told Channel 9 that two men died as a result of the gunfire and another person was rushed to a hospital.

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Around 8:30 a.m., police confirmed a third victim died.

Police said Jerome Anderson, 38, called 911 and said he had just shot someone. When officers arrived at the scene, they said they found Anderson holding a cell phone and a handgun and were able to take him into custody.

Police said he shot and killed his roommate Antoine Melvin, 42; his neighbor John Burch, 64; and Patrick Lassiter, 35, a transient who frequents the area. Officers said the victims were found shot in three different locations, Melvin inside his home, Burch on the street outside his home and Lassiter on the road near the intersection of South Martin Luther King and Park Drive.

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Officers believe Anderson shot at a fourth man who they don’t believe was hit and has not been located.

When officers interviewed Anderson, they said he indicated that he was defending himself. But police said they have not found evidence indicating the shooting was in self-defense.

Anderson is facing three charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

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