WZEP AM 1460 First News - Chase & Shooting Update

[C Kevin Chilcutt]

 

Chase Begins In Okaloosa, Ends in DFS After Shooting Leaves Three Dead

Saturday, April 25, 2009, around 1pm, law enforcement were in pursuit of a small red pickup truck eastbound on Highway 90 near DeFuniak Springs. While details are not complete, it appears the truck was driven by a male suspect, 28-year-old Joshua William Cartwright, who was involved in a domestic violence altercation in Ft. Walton Beach earlier in the day, then a shootout with Okaloosa Sheriff's Deputies at the Shoal River Gun Club when the deputies attempted to arrest him. The gun club is just east of Crestview on Highway 90. Cartwright possibly used an AK-47 and shot the deputies in the head and chest. They were wearing protective vests. The two Okaloosa Deputies were transported to the trauma center in Pensacola via air ambulance. Deputies Burt Lopez and Deputy Warren "Skip" York both died from injuries. Both deputies were 45-years-old and left behind families. An honor guard from Escambia and Okaloosa stood with the bodies of their fallen.

Cartwright then headed to DeFuniak Springs pursued by law enforcement. Spike were put out at the intersection of U.S. 331 north and Highway 90, near the DeFuniak Springs airport. Apparently Cartwright avoided the spikes and traveled onto the south shoulder, eventually coming against the railroad track bed. At the same time, a Walton sheriff's vehicle had pulled up to block the truck. The truck flipped and came to a rest with its back against and partially on the patrol vehicle. Cartwright shot through a window and then climbed out of the truck and fired at deputies and a passing vehicle. A witness at the DeFuniak Springs scene told WZEP there were a number of shots fired. Residents of the community also report hearing gunfire. Deputies returned fire and Cartwright was killed at the scene.

Walton And Okaloosa Sheriff's deputies, DeFuniak Springs Police, Florida Highway Patrol, FWC Officers, DeFuniak Springs Fire Department and Walton Fire-Rescue all responded. Highway 90 was shut down for a short time at both the DeFuniak Springs scene and the Shoal River Gun Club scene. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was called and is assisting with the investigation.

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