Investigators say the gunfire may have happened during an attempted robbery; no arrest announced.
DELTONA, FL — A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed on Christmas night in Deltona, where deputies say the gunfire may have occurred during an attempted robbery on El Campo Avenue shortly before 9 p.m. The teen, identified as Brenden Watkins, died at the scene.
Volusia County sheriff’s detectives opened a homicide investigation early Friday as evidence technicians processed the block and canvassed homes for surveillance video and witnesses. The Sheriff’s Office said initial findings point to a robbery attempt, but investigators have not announced a suspect or made an arrest. The case arrives during a holiday week when several Central Florida shootings left young people dead or wounded, intensifying concern among local families and officials about violence near year’s end.
Deputies were dispatched at 8:49 p.m. Thursday to the 2000 block of El Campo Avenue, a residential stretch in Deltona. When they arrived, they found Watkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead on scene. The Sheriff’s Office said detectives collected evidence into the night and interviewed people who were nearby. “Initial findings indicate the shooting may have occurred during an attempted robbery,” the agency said in a statement, adding that investigators were still piecing together the moments that led to the gunfire on the holiday evening.
Authorities publicly identified the victim as Brenden Watkins, 17, of Deltona. As of Friday evening, no suspect description had been released and no arrest had been announced. Detectives were pursuing leads, reviewing any available video from doorbell and security cameras, and mapping the path of gunfire based on physical evidence recovered at the scene. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death after an autopsy. Officials did not say whether a weapon had been recovered or how many rounds were fired. The Sheriff’s Office called the investigation active and ongoing.
The Christmas night killing came as Central Florida dealt with multiple holiday shootings involving teenagers. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, separate incidents in the Orlando area left teens dead, including a case Orange County deputies described as an accidental shooting that killed a 13-year-old girl. Those cases are under separate investigation. Deltona, a city of roughly 95,000 in Volusia County, has seen periodic spikes in gun crime around major holidays in past years, though most incidents do not involve minors. Thursday’s shooting drew renewed attention to safety on neighborhood blocks where families gathered for holiday dinners and gift exchanges.
Volusia sheriff’s detectives outlined the next steps typical in a case like this: processing the scene, analyzing shell casings and other forensic evidence in a lab, and comparing any ballistic signatures with state and federal databases. Investigators were also expected to continue door-to-door interviews and review incoming tips. If a suspect is identified, prosecutors would determine charges that could include murder and, if the robbery motive is confirmed, felony counts tied to an attempted robbery resulting in death. Any court timeline would depend on an arrest and first appearance before a judge in Volusia County.
Neighbors said the block was ringed with patrol cars and crime-scene tape late into the night as families looked on from porches. One neighbor, speaking to a local television crew, said the violence felt especially jarring on a night meant for family gatherings and quiet streets. “Because I have kids, and you never know what can happen,” the neighbor said, describing how residents checked on relatives as investigators worked under holiday lights. On Friday morning, residents reported detectives returning to collect follow-up statements while crews removed remaining markers from the roadway.
As of late Friday, the homicide investigation remained open with no suspect in custody. Detectives planned additional canvasses through the weekend and anticipated releasing updated information if a break in the case occurs. The Medical Examiner’s findings and any new evidence reviews are expected to shape the next public update in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 27, 2025.