Christmas night in Deltona is usually a quiet time for families to relax, but this year, it turned into a nightmare on El Campo Avenue. Around 8:49 p.m., while most people were finishing up their holiday dinners, 17-year-old Brenden Watkins was shot multiple times in a residential neighborhood. The sound of gunfire shattered the holiday peace, leaving a local family heartbroken and a community looking for answers.
When Volusia Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene in the 2000 block of El Campo Avenue, they found Brenden clinging to life. They didn’t waste a second, jumping in to perform CPR and other life-saving measures right there on the pavement. Despite their best efforts and the quick arrival of paramedics, the injuries were just too much. Brenden was pronounced dead at the scene, turning a day of celebration into a scene of unimaginable grief.
Detectives have been working around the clock since the call came in. While they are still in the early stages of the investigation, they’ve shared a chilling theory: this might have been a robbery gone wrong. It’s a terrifying thought for residents—that a simple holiday evening could escalate into such a violent confrontation. Authorities haven’t said exactly what led to the shooting, but they are confident that criminal activity was the spark that caused the violence.
Right now, the person who pulled the trigger is still out there. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no suspects are in custody yet, which has left the neighborhood on edge. Investigators are currently scouring the area for any doorbell camera footage or witnesses who might have seen a car speeding away or heard a heated argument before the shots rang out. They are essentially putting together a giant, tragic puzzle.
The loss of Brenden has hit Deltona hard. He was just 17, with his whole life ahead of him. Neighbors described the incident as deeply unsettling, especially happening on a street that connects Sullivan Street to Applegate Terrace—a place where kids usually feel safe. The local community is now grappling with the reality of youth violence hitting so close to home on such a significant day.
Sheriff’s officials are asking everyone to be patient as they follow up on leads. They noted that robbery-related cases are often complex, requiring a lot of forensic work and interviews to get the full story. They want to make sure they have all the facts straight before making an arrest, but their main goal is clear: getting justice for Brenden’s family.
As the investigation moves forward, the Sheriff’s Office is reminding everyone to stay vigilant. They’ve emphasized that even the smallest detail from a neighbor could be the break they need to solve this case. For now, a family is mourning a teenager who should have been celebrating the New Year, and a community is left hoping for a quick arrest to bring some sense of peace back to their streets.
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