3 Arrested for Purse Theft, Shooting in DeLand

Three suspects were arrested in connection to a purse theft and shooting in DeLand, according to a news release from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office on Friday. Deltona residents Alyssa Levy (26) and Willie Goosby III (22), plus DeLand resident Makhi Edwards (18) were all charged for their alleged involvement in the ordeal. The incident began on Thursday morning, when the victim discovered her purse was missing from her car at Taylor Place Apartments in DeLand. She had no lead on where it’d been taken until 1:00 pm, when she was notified that her credit card had been used at a Checker’s in town. She went to the restaurant with two other people to attempt to regain her belongings. Upon arrival, the VSO’s report says the woman found the suspects still in the Checkers drive-through. Upon identifying them as the ones who had her things, she’s said to have grabbed her purse and card back from the car, before the driver drove away. Some time afterward, the victim apparently spotted the suspects driving in DeLand and began to follow their vehicle. When the suspects realized they were being followed, the VSO says two of the three began firing guns from the back seat. Nobody was shot or otherwise injured in the shooting, and VSO deputies were soon able to identify the car with the suspects still inside. All three suspects were charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. Edwards was charged with violation of juvenile probation, and Levy was charged with evidence tampering. Any charges stemming from the purse theft and fraudulent credit card usage would come from an ongoing investigation by the DeLand Police Department. As of early Friday afternoon, Goosby and Edwards remain in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail. Levy was released on bond Friday morning.