November 23, 2007
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEARCHING FOR MURDER SUSPECT 

Volusia County Sheriff’s investigators are searching for a 23-year-old DeLand man who’s wanted in a shooting death earlier this month. Eric Lyles was found on the sidewalk along South Clara Avenue near DeLand in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, mortally wounded and barely alive. He was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where the victim died about 15 hours after the shooting. 

An investigation by the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit led them to Jontrell Jackson, who was seen by witnesses running from the scene of the shooting. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The Sheriff’s Office presented its findings to Volusia County Court Judge Shirley Green, who issued a warrant on Monday charging Jackson with 2nd-degree murder. Investigators have been searching for Jackson all week, but have been unable to locate him. 

Jackson, who also goes by the street name Troll, was last known to be living on Valleydale Avenue in DeLand. He’s 6’ tall, weighs about 170 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 736-5979 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.