ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — A tragic incident at a gas station claimed the life of an off-duty police officer Monday afternoon. Authorities confirmed that David Jewell, an officer with the Edgewater Police Department, was shot and killed at a Circle K location shortly after 4 p.m.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced that Jewell was pronounced dead at the scene. The area surrounding Ocean Shore Boulevard, particularly from Briggs to San Jose Drive, has been cordoned off as investigators work to piece together the events leading to the shooting. Residents and visitors are urged to steer clear of the area while the investigation is underway.
During a press briefing, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood provided details about the incident. Chitwood identified 30-year-old Jewell, who had been a police officer for just a few months after taking his oath in June 2023. Prior to joining the Edgewater force, he worked at the communications center of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, and he resided near the location of the shooting.
The sheriff identified the alleged assailant as Eduardo Machado, a clerk at the same Circle K store where the shooting occurred. Chitwood indicated that surveillance footage captured the moments leading up to the shooting, showing Machado exiting the store as Jewell entered. Machado then returned with a jacket and approached Jewell, firing several shots into his head before firing additional shots as Jewell fell to the ground.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Another clerk at the gas station reported hearing gunshots and exiting a restroom only to find Machado leaving the scene of the crime. Chitwood characterized the attack as “an out-and-out assassination” and emphasized the need for further investigation to uncover the motive behind the shooting.
Jewell’s colleagues and the community expressed shock and sorrow. Acting Edgewater Police Chief Charles Geiger fondly remembered Jewell as one of the kindest individuals, lamenting that such a dedicated officer would not return home due to an act of violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the motives behind this tragic incident, which has left the community mourning the loss of a young officer dedicated to serving and protecting.