Carlos Dupree, 34, a felon on probation, Korey Jones, 16, and Darius Watts, 15, were arrested early Sunday following an alleged armed home-invasion robbery at a house on Prospect Lane in Palm Coast where seven victims sustained injuries and were robbed at gunpoint.
Dupree is in federal probation in Missouri on drug and weapons charges. One of the residents in the house managed to dial 911 and did not say anything, but left the line open–a knowing move that immediately alerted authorities to investigate the origin of the call: deputies arrived at the property just as the silver Chevy carrying the alleged assailants was speeding off. Several patrol vehicles followed until the Chevy crashed at Palm Coast Parkway and Colbert Lane, from where several men fled.
It took almost four hours, but deputies found and arrested three of the four suspects at 3:40 a.m. A K-9 bit one of the assailants. The fourth is still at large.
“At this time, we do not believe this was a random attack and likely involves other criminal activity, like most home invasions do,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Our patrol deputies did a great job quickly apprehending three of the suspects. The investigation is ongoing to determine the motive for the crime and investigators are also working to identify the fourth suspect. If anyone has any information on this case, please call us or Crimestoppers.”
Edited body cam footage shows deputies and two search dogs locating three of the alleged assailants in brush, in two locations.
The alleged victims in the house were three women, ages 20, 20 and 47, two men, 22 and 23, and two boys, 16 and 17.
Two of the victims told Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies that around midnight the night of Dec. 12 to 13 four men armed with handguns invaded her home from the back of the residence. Another victim put the number of assailants at three. (Video surveillance confirmed there were four.) Yet another victim who’d been on the back porch when the assailants arrived said one of them pistol-whipped him before going in. He stayed outside during the home invasion. He reported his wallet and an iPhone stolen.
The arrest report heavily censors the names of the victims, in accordance with Marcy’s Law (which provides identity protection to victims of crime), making it difficult to precisely determine what victim was being attacked. Two of the intruders dragged the woman’s son into a bedroom and proceeded to kick him while he was on the ground. Many blows landed on his head. One of the assailants then ordered him to “gimmie all your shit.” The assailant located a safe, ordered it opened, and took $1,300 in cash.
Another intruder kicked another victim in the living room, repeatedly striking him with a chair and demanding to know “where it at?” The man on the ground told him “it’s in the black car out front.” The assailant asked him what was there, the man said he didn’t know. “I ain’t playing I’m fixing to pull this trigger,” the attacker then said, according to an arrest report, removing between $300 and $400 from the man’s pockets.
One of the victims would later tell deputies that he was just trying to get the men out of the house. There was a lot of activity, making it hard to keep track of, the woman told deputies. As the assailants were leaving–“man, we gotta go,” one of them yelled–she heard a gunshot in the foyer. The bullet ended up in the ceiling.
Much of the violence and thefts were captured on a home video surveillance system and a doorbell camera.
One gun was found in the Chevy. A “Ruger LCP chambered in 380 acp” and a “Glock model 35 chambered in .40sw” were located in the bushes along the path Jones, Watts and Dupree took as they fled from law enforcement, along with masks and a gallon-size Ziplock bag containing pot.
Dupree faces charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Home Invasion Robbery, Wearing a Mask While Committing a Felony, Resisting Arrest, and Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $250,000 for the charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, false imprisonment, aggravated assault and wearing a mask while committing a felony, but he has no bond on the charges of home invasion and probation violation.
Jones and Watts were each arrested and charged with False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated
Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Home Invasion Robbery, Wearing a Mask While Committing a Felony and Resisting Arrest. All three were booked at the county jail. The two juveniles were turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. (FlaglerLive does not normally publish the names of juveniles facing charges. Exceptions are made based on the violence of the alleged crimes and the involvement of firearms.)
This is an ongoing investigation. If you have information that could assist this investigation, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477). You could be eligible for a reward up to $5,000.
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Fernando Melendez says
To all our brave FCSO Deputies Thank you for putting your lives in danger to protect ours.
Jimbo99 says
There’s gotta be more to this story than a random home invasion. As in these folks have to know each other.
EJ says
That’s why the story says “At this time, we do not believe this was a random attack”
On a side note, I’m sure their mommies must be very pleased at the paths they decided to take. I’m sure the family will blame it on society and that ‘no way could my little boy do this’
Pathetic
Mark says
This is why we must Legalize Marijauana!! This senseless and violent crime is the direct result of not providing safe access to the medicine, forcing people to put themselves in dangerous posistions.
John P says
I’m more concerned that these kinds of violent people are in our Palm Coast area. These are not just local druggies, or burglars. These are very violent people that shouldn’t have been let out of jail.
Mary Fusco says
Mark, you are funny. So, a convicted felon on probation and his 2 teenage thugs were looking for Pot? I highly doubt they were looking for “medicine”. This was most likely a drug house. Palm Coast seems determined to attract garbage and it is working. Get used to it because it is only going to get worse!
Joe Cranford says
They keep building duplex on every lot. Drug house s
Trailer Bob says
I don’t think it was just about the weed…it was about the money. Throw away the key, man…
Really says
The Juvies going nowhere fast. The older alleged Criminal probably shouldn’t be out anyway. Hes going away for a while . Guns and drug dealers lucky no one was shot and killed.Lock them up.
Land of no turn signals says says
That’s going to look bad on their college application.
FlaglerBear says
I’d like to take this opportunity to respectfully say I disagree with the logic that legalizing marijuana will magically make those with a propensity toward violent crime suddenly change their entire outlook, put down their weapons, and find gainful employment. I’ve worked around criminals long enough to know that it just…doesn’t…matter. They’ll find some other way to get into trouble because that’s who they are, that’s what they do. They’re bad guys. They enjoy their work; and there’s plenty of other illicit ventures in this world to get into. I really have no issues with decriminalizing marijuana. Maybe it’s time, not for me to say, but don’t expect it to have any impact on crime or criminal behavior…It might actually make things worse.
Outsider says
I agree, but propose a better solution: just make all criminal behavior and we will eliminate crime. This is the path the left seems to be laying out for the rest of us who live within the current laws.
JoAnne says
Great Job FCSO! Great handling of the dog he did a fantastic job too!
ASF says
Why no bond on Probation Violation and Home Invasion? Was this a drug house and the felons were invited in? The PV should have consequences beyond, “Ok we’ll let this charge slide.”
Richard says
You reap what you sow! Just say’n.
Trailer Bob says
Our courts are way to lenient today. Amazing who many times some of these scumbags use the revolving prison door to get out and do it all over again. Why are we so against sufficient jail-time?
Fuggetaboutit says
Fortunately, by the grace of God, this fine man and his youthful friends were not killed by Police.
justice for children says
why is that the police can where a blackmask and black clothing? IF we wear it were committing a crime home in vasions and robbery stared with white people.I’M sick and tired of these cops leave these dam children along and get them some profesional help and stop locking them up and making them better criminals than they was at first. Get them some guidance jail is not the fucking answer for them…..please help them better justice for children
Bastion says
It not the System COPS to take care of any body .Its
the RESPONSABILITY OF THE PARENTS
TO TAKE CARE OF AND DISCIPLINE.
there own child.
Dont pawn off your kids!
Korey Jones says
These comments are straight sad. One of those teens was my son and he was taken against his will.
MEL says
Sorry to hear that about your child, but why was he with the other so called men…Like was he being held against his will when he was involved in the beatings of these people that were robbed or was he there willingly when that occurred? IJS (I’m just saying, like WHY wasn’t your child home with you and NOT roaming with these hoodlums?)