Man dies in shootout with Volusia County sheriff's deputies

Family escapes through window of home

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Deputies have released the name of the suicidal man who died Monday night in a shootout with Volusia County sheriff's deputies as his family escaped through a window, according to authorities.

Officials said it is not known if Michael Hartman, 38, shot and killed himself or was fatally wounded by gunfire from Volusia County sheriff's deputies. No other injuries were reported.

The names of the deputies involved in the shooting were also released. Deputy Cody Cochran, 26, was hired in November 2011 and Deputy Corey Rittenour, 35, hired in July 2010. Both have been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure in a deputy-involved shooting.

The shooting was reported about 9:50 p.m. at a home in the 3600 block of Plantation Drive near Ormond Beach.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office told WKMG-TV that deputies were called to the home because Hartman was threatening to kill himself.

There was a "gun shop" inside the house and Hartman had access to numerous firearms, deputies said.

The Sheriff's Office said Hartman opened fire on deputies about 30 minutes after they arrived, and two deputies returned fire. Hartman died at the scene. 

Hartman's wife, along with three children between the ages of 2 and 14, were in the house, but the youngest children were passed through a window and went to some nearby woods to seek safety, deputies said. Hartman's wife and a friend also escaped through the window, and the 14-year-old boy was unharmed, deputies said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting.


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