On the morning of April 2, 2026, South Daytona was shaken by an officer-involved shooting that took place on I-95. The incident began following an emergency call related to another shooting stemming from a road rage altercation in Port Orange, where fortunately, no injuries had been reported. However, as Officer Jake Fessenden of the South Daytona Police Department pursued the suspect, Todd Martin, events took a dire turn.
During the pursuit, Martin crashed his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. In a dramatic confrontation, he fired at Officer Fessenden, who returned fire. The exact number of shots exchanged remains unclear. Tragically, Officer Fessenden, just 23 years old, was shot in the shoulder and leg. Thankfully, he is expected to survive but will require hospitalization for one to two days.
Details of the Incident
Meanwhile, Todd Martin, 31, also sustained gunshot wounds and suffered severe burns, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. If he survives, he will face charges of attempted murder of a police officer. Remarkably, during the chaos, Martin managed to enter Fessenden’s patrol car, which later caught fire. Eyewitnesses reported that he jumped out of the vehicle engulfed in flames before being taken into custody and receiving medical assistance.
This incident marks a worrying trend, as Officer Fessenden is the second police officer in Volusia County to be shot this month. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has taken charge of the investigation into this alarming event. The other officers present at the scene were unharmed but are receiving support to cope with the traumatic experience.
According to statistics from the National Fraternal Order of Police, there were nearly 350 officers shot in the line of duty in 2025, with 21 of those incidents occurring in Florida. The first two months of 2026 have seen 62 officers shot, including three in Florida alone.
Context and Statistics
This incident underscores a broader narrative regarding police shootings in the United States. A report published by the Washington Post, covering data from 2015 to 2024, reveals significant insights into the demographics of individuals shot by police. For those interested in exploring this data further, you can access the statistics through Statista.
For ongoing updates and detailed coverage of this developing story, visit the original source of this information at MyNews13.