FCSO: Convicted Felon Arrested After Breaking into Home, Violating No-Contact Order and Shooting Man

BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Daytona Beach man after he broke into a former partner’s Palm Coast home while armed and shot a man during a struggle over the gun.

On Aug. 7, shortly after 6:30 a.m., deputies responded to a reported break-in and shooting at a residence in the F-Section of Palm Coast involving two victims and a suspect. Prior to deputies’ arrival, a woman contacted the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center to report an intruder who was actively forcing entry into her home. During the 911 call, dispatchers could hear the confrontation escalating in the background and the woman reported the intruder had a gun. Dispatchers then heard a gunshot, and the woman stated a man had been shot in the hand.

The female victim identified the suspect as John Lyles, 52, of Daytona Beach, and reported he fled after the shooting leaving the scene in a white Mercedes SUV.

While patrol deputies began searching for the vehicle, Major Case detectives responded to the residence to interview the victims. Detectives determined Lyles was a former partner of the female victim, had moved out of the home days earlier, and had been under an order of no contact with the victim following a previous domestic battery arrest in Volusia County. In addition, Lyles was a convicted felon who could not legally possess a firearm.

Through investigative means, a deputy located the vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 95 and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, the deputy made contact with the driver, who was not Lyles and was the sole occupant. The driver informed the deputy that Lyles was an acquaintance who he had been hanging out with the night before and agreed to give him a ride to the residence because he had been intoxicated. The driver further stated he had watched as Lyles entered the residence, then heard a verbal disturbance and a gunshot, and Lyles ran back to the vehicle. The driver said he tried to drive away but Lyles jumped in the vehicle and ordered him to drive, which he did due to fear, believing Lyles still had a firearm. The driver then dropped Lyles off in Palm Coast prior to the traffic stop but stated he could not remember where.

Shortly after, another deputy located Lyles walking along Belle Terre Parkway near Barrister Lane and detained him. During a search, the deputy found a bag of cocaine in Lyles’ pocket.

Deputies arrested Lyles for burglary while armed with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony battery with prior convictions, and possession of cocaine. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.

“This dirtbag had already been ordered by a judge to have no contact with the victim and as a convicted felon he couldn’t legally possess a firearm. Neither of those stopped him from breaking down the door, entering the house, and shooting someone before running off,” said Sheriff Rick Staly.

Lyles is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, having previously been convicted of sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of heroin, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and resisting an officer with violence. At the time of his arrest, Lyles was on bond stemming from a June 24 arrest in Volusia County and had an order of no contact with the victim.

If you or someone you know is in a violent domestic situation, help is available by calling the non-emergency number 386-313-4911 or the Family Life Center at 386-437-3505.