Deputies kill man who shot nearly 200 rounds at Volusia County neighbors during hours-long standoff
By: -----
A man accused of shooting into homes and at deputies in Ormond-by-the-Sea on Thanksgiving morning is now dead following a more than four-hour standoff.
According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, he's never seen anything like this in 37 years.
Jason Valiant, who lives at the Kingston Shores Condos, where this shooting happened, was in his pajamas when we spoke to him. He said deputies banged on his doors and evacuated several people as the man continued shooting.
"This is Ormond-by-the-Sea. We leave our windows open at night and our doors open at night, like we've never seen anything like this," said Valiant.
The sheriff says deputies had already responded to assist Joseph Difusco, a veteran and convicted felon from Connecticut, on Thursday morning in response to a mental health crisis.
Hours after Difusco refused to be seen by medical professionals, Chitwood said the man began shooting at residents and their homes on Ocean Shore Boulevard. When deputies arrived at the scene, the man retreated back into his home — launching a standoff that would last for hours.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Chitwood said he and his team quickly learned the man was not willing to negotiate. About two hours into the standoff, officials say Difusco started firing at law enforcement vehicles.
"Probably, he has fired close to 200 rounds," Chitwood said. "Some of the apartments are littered. The facade is just shot up."
Officials say Difusco would fire any time they tried to negotiate and was armed with multiple weapons.
"There was no negotiating with this guy ... and my objective was to make sure every single deputy went home for Thanksgiving dinner," Chitwood said.
Once deputies were able to gain access to the home, Chitwood said they ended the standoff by shooting and killing the man.
"In 37 years, I don't think I've ever had an experience where I had to position snipers and say, 'You have a green light to do your job,'" Chitwood said.
The sheriff confirmed that no deputies or nearby residents were injured during the shooting or standoff.