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A South Daytona police officer was shot after a pursuit tied to an earlier road-rage shooting call ended in gunfire on Interstate 95 in Volusia County, in a violent sequence that left both the officer and the suspect wounded. Authorities identified the injured officer as Jake Fessenden of the South Daytona Police Department.
How the Incident Began
According to Port Orange police statements cited by local outlets, officers were first dispatched at about 6 a.m. Sunday, March 15, 2026, to a reported shooting near Country Lane.
Investigators said no one was injured in that initial incident, but they identified a suspect as Todd Martin, also reported as Todd Anthony Martin, who then fled the area in a vehicle.
Pursuit Onto I-95
Police said officers attempted to stop Martin, but he drove off, prompting a pursuit with assistance from the South Daytona Police Department.
The chase continued onto I-95 near I-4 and Beville Road, where the suspect’s vehicle crashed. Authorities say the confrontation escalated immediately after the crash.
Officer Jake Fessenden Was Shot Twice
Port Orange police said Martin opened fire after the crash, striking Officer Fessenden. Officials said a South Daytona officer returned fire, hitting the suspect.
Local reporting indicates Fessenden was shot twice and taken to a hospital in stable condition, with at least one report saying he would need surgery.
Suspect Reportedly Suffered Gunshot Wounds and Burns
The suspect was also hospitalized in critical condition, according to local coverage.
After the exchange of gunfire, Martin fled on foot, attempted to steal a police vehicle, altered it electronically, and the vehicle caught fire, leaving him with severe burns in addition to gunshot wounds.
That detail appears in later reporting and adds a dramatic turn to an already chaotic scene.
What Investigators Say About the Original Shooting
Authorities said the earlier road-rage shooting that triggered the case did not leave anyone injured.
FOX 35 also reported that investigators saw no known connection between the suspect and the victim from that first shooting call, suggesting the violence unfolded between people who were not previously linked.
A Fast-Escalating Case in Volusia County
Even by Florida standards, the timeline is stark: an initial shooting report, a fleeing suspect, a pursuit onto one of the region’s busiest highways, then a crash and gunfire involving police.
Traffic was heavily affected around Beville Road, I-4, and I-95 as officers secured the scene and began the investigation.
What Remains Unclear
As of the latest local reports, authorities had not publicly released a full charging update or a detailed investigative timeline beyond the initial police account.
The available reporting consistently confirms the officer’s identity, the suspect’s name, the location of the crash, and the fact that the officer was wounded after the pursuit ended on I-95.
More precise details, including any prosecutorial decisions or further medical updates, will depend on later statements from investigators.
