Update: Suspect Arrested In 2 Armed Robberies in Deltona

Date Added: August 20, 2023 8:55 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

2 ARMED ROBBERIES UNDER INVESTIGATION IN DELTONA

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a pair of armed robberies this weekend in Deltona.

The first case was reported around 10:30 p.m. Friday outside the Pizza Hut at 1894 Providence Blvd., where an employee sitting in her vehicle was approached by an armed suspect who demanded money at gunpoint. The suspect was described as a thin black male between the ages of 20-30 wearing a black hoodie or jacket with his face covered by a black shirt or bandana.

The second case was reported around 3:30 a.m. Sunday at the Circle K station at 1805 Elkcam Blvd., where the clerk reported a black male suspect wearing a ‘Scream’ mask and all black clothing robbed him at gunpoint.

There were no injuries in either incident. In both cases, the victims reported the suspect was armed with a rifle.

Detectives are continuing to investigate both cases and working to confirm whether they’re connected. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 386-248-1777 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS or via the P3 Tips app.

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UPDATE (8/25/23):

A suspect in a pair of armed robberies in Deltona is in custody after detectives recovered the robber’s mask, gloves, shoes and black clothing from his trash, and a rifle from his bedroom.

Andre Lee-Quan Parker, 21 (DOB 4/24/2002), of 1827 E. Chapel Drive in Deltona, was arrested Thursday night after a search warrant was executed at his home, which is less than a half-mile from the scene of both robberies.

Deputies and detectives have been busy with the investigation since the robberies were reported last Friday night at Pizza Hut (1894 Providence Blvd.) and early Sunday at Circle K (1805 Elkcam Blvd.). The businesses are adjacent to each other. In both cases, victims gave similar descriptions of the suspect and said he was armed with a rifle.

While units canvassed the neighborhood, collected video footage and posted flyers, detectives also conducted surveillance on multiple persons of interest in several locations, including the area where a K-9 track ended after each robbery. A man seen leaving a home a few doors down from that spot was discovered to be the same one – Andre Parker – who had a plastic gel blaster gun during a July 2022 encounter with deputies at the Circle K.

Parker was not one of the original persons of interest in the case. But when detectives continued surveillance on him as he went to work at McDonald’s, they noticed the blue latex gloves used by employees were the same style seen in the video of the robbery at Circle K.

After multiple attempts to speak with Parker, detectives left a Crime Stoppers flyer on his door seeking information about the robberies.

On Thursday, Parker’s trash was out on the curb for scheduled pickup, and detectives pulled four trash bags to search for evidence. They found a “Scream” mask, black shoes, a plaid women’s wallet containing the Pizza Hut victim’s ID cards, blue latex gloves, a black hoodie, and black pants. After obtaining a search warrant for the home, detectives also found a backpack containing a HK .22 caliber rifle, ammunition, and more blue latex gloves. Parker and others in the house confirmed to detectives that the backpack was Parker’s.

Although he initially denied any knowledge of the robberies, Parker later confirmed that he committed them alone.

He was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail on 2 counts of armed robbery and remains in custody as of this writing with a total bond of $60,000.