Deputy who investigators say shot armed carjacking suspect in Merritt Island identified

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County deputies have released the identity of the man shot after an armed carjacking and the deputy who shot him Monday.

Douglas William Dixon, 31, of Cocoa is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

Deputies said the confrontation between Dixon and Sgt. Chris Ferrante happened near the intersection of State Road 520 and North Tropical Trail on Merritt Island.

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Everything came to an end around 2 p.m. but investigators said it started hours before on Canaveral Groves Boulevard after Dixon stole a car from a good Samaritan.

Deputies said Dixon stole a black Dodge Charger from a driver Monday morning, after the victim stopped because he thought a car had broken down.

When the victim got out, deputies say Dixon and another man came up with a gun and made off with his car.

Deputies spotted that stolen car five hours later and the sheriff helicopter followed the driver through Rockledge, Viera and Cocoa.

Deputies then used stop sticks to flatten his tires on Merritt Island.

“I saw him jump out of the black car, run across the parking lot,” said witness John Cruz.

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That's when investigators said Dixon tried to get in a car at a gas station.

Investigators said Dixon then tried to get into two more cars that were in traffic. But he was unsuccessful.

Deputies said Ferrante shot Dixon several times and he was taken to a hospital.

Deputies said Ferrante, who has been with the department since November 200, was not injured and has been placed on paid administrative leave as is customary after officer-involved shootings.

“This individual only had one thing in mind, being violent, stealing cars, putting their lives at risk,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. “These individuals had evil in their heart.”

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WFTV spoke with a woman who said Dixon tried to steal her car too.

“I know he's alive because I saw him kicking his legs and then he started whining,” said witness Debbie Yeomans.

“Even after being shot multiple times the suspect continued to fight,” Ivey said.

Dixon bonded out of jail a week ago on unrelated drug and gun charges.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to call Agent Philipp Urbanetz of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at 321-633-8413.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News, WFTV.com and the WFTV mobile app for the latest updates.

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