April 19, 2012
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

TWO MEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER

Two men have been arrested in the shooting of 48-year-old Ernest Minton, who remains in critical condition at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Minton had been grocery shopping with his girlfriend and then went to 1336 Par Ave., near Ormond Beach, to unload the groceries at the girlfriend’s mother’s house at about 11:30 Wednesday night. It’s believed that the defendants had followed the couple from the store to the house for an unknown reason. Minton was still sitting in his car while his girlfriend started unloading when suddenly the defendants drove up to them in a van and 23-year-old Zachary Holloway (5/8/88) got out. Holloway ran up to the victim’s car, yanked on the door handle and demanded that Minton get out. The other defendant, 18-year-old John Headen IV (2/24/94), ran to the other side of the victim’s vehicle, pushing Minton’s girlfriend out of the way.

The girlfriend immediately ran toward the house but then she heard gunshots. She turned around to see Minton had been shot and the defendants were fleeing. She called 911 and gave a description of the suspect vehicle. Responding Sheriff’s deputies and Daytona Beach police officers found the suspect van and pursued it until the occupants abandoned it near 421 Whitney Street in Daytona Beach. They jumped out while the van was still moving and let it crash into a utility pole while they fled on foot. Holloway and Headen were quickly apprehended while a third, unknown man got away.

Investigators interviewed the defendants, who are both from Daytona Beach, but Holloway refused to talk and Headen didn’t reveal any useful information. Holloway was charged with attempted murder and Headen was charged with principle to attempted murder. They were then booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

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