On Monday, October 6, 2025, at approximately 8:03 a.m., DeLand Police and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported stabbing at 724 S. Palmetto Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers secured the area and located the victim, a 29-year-old Black male, suffering from two stab wounds to the back. He was airlifted to Halifax Health as a Trauma Alert by Air One.

The suspect fled the area on foot prior to police arrival and was not immediately located. As a precaution, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding neighborhood, and Starke Elementary School was placed on lockdown.

Detectives determined that the victim and suspect knew each other and are both local transients. The altercation stemmed from an incident the previous night, in which the victim allegedly stole the suspect’s bicycle. The suspect reportedly searched for the victim throughout the night and confronted him the following morning at the Palmetto Avenue address, where a physical altercation occurred. Witnesses stated the suspect stabbed the victim during the fight.

The suspect was identified as Cornell Maxwell, 37, of DeLand. At about 2:30 p.m., Maxwell was located and arrested in DeLand without further incident.

No additional information at this time, including any potential charges.