ONE MAN SHOT IN LEG DURING BURGLARY

ONE MAN SHOT IN LEG DURING BURGLARY

Two brothers looking for scrap metal to sell found themselves staring down the barrel of a rifle early Wednesday morning when the racket they made had alerted the property owner. A brief confrontation resulted in shots ringing out and the pair fleeing as fast as they could from the property near DeLand. But a bullet ripped through one of the brothers’ legs, forcing him to call for help from a nearby gas station a few minutes later. David Krouse (7/3/1977) was treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and released to Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies. A short time later, his brother, Steven Krouse (2/12/1975), was also captured. Both men were charged with burglary and criminal mischief and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

Thomas Witbeck, 62, was trying to fall asleep at about 2 a.m. when he heard loud noises outside. He grabbed his .22 caliber rifle and headed out to check his property at 2380 Roxboro Court where he has a shed and three mobile homes. Witbeck’s property had been burglarized in the past and he believed it might be happening again. As he walked along a path leading to the shed, he saw two men trying to break into it and one of the mobile homes. He later told deputies that he had yelled at the intruders and when one moved toward him he opened fire. He got off one or two rounds and the rifle jammed. The brothers then jumped into their van and sped away. Witbeck cleared the jam and fired several more shots at the fleeing van.

David drove to the RaceTrac store at 1268 E. International Speedway Blvd. He pulled into the parking lot and used his cell phone to call for help while his brother fled the area on foot. When deputies arrived, David told them “I’m not gonna lie. I was just trying to get some extra money and I broke into some stuff and got shot at.” He also told deputies that his brother had been with him, and deputies found Steven at 2958 2^nd Court, DeLand, later in the morning. Steven denied having been present for the burglary or shooting.