Local News Now

Here is a listing of the crimes that have kept New Smyrna Beach cops hopping prior to this morning's fatal shooting of a would-be pharmacy robber. They include an earlier armed robbery of a supermarket pharmacy, an armed robbery/stabbing in a department store, an armed robbery-beating in a yard, a carjacking and beating, a stolen vehicle chase and a prowling car burglar -- all in the past couple of weeks:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Harry Lodia, manager of the Marathon gas station and convenience store on North Dixie asked aloud what is likely on the minds of many merchants in the wake of a would-be robber's attempt to hold up the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy up the street when he was shot dead earlier today: "Who's next?"
With merchants already struggling to make an honest living in an ailing economy, it seems criminals are becoming more desperate, too, Lodia, said he worries about the safety not only of employees, but their customers as well.
"You just never know if you are next," said Lodia, who is keenly aware of New Smyrna Beach's recent crime wave. He's not alone.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. A masked robber was shot and killed just before 10:15 this morning by a security guard at the Medicine Shoppe, 653 N. Dixie Freeway. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A masked robber was shot and killed this morning by a security guard just before 10:15 at the Medicine Shoppe, at 653 N. Dixie Freeway, after he stuck a gun in the face of the pharmacist and demanded drugs, New Smyrna Beach police confirmed.

"Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call of shots fired," police spokesman Sgt. Mike Brouillette said. "A white male wearing a mask pointed a gun at the pharmacist and demanded drugs."

EDGEWATER -- The man found dead inside a Cory Drive home home just south of Edgewater that caught fire Thursday has been identified as 61-year-old Michael McCool, Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught reporte this afternoon.

The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the identity during an autopsy this morning.

The Medical Examiner has also preliminarily ruled that McCool died of smoke inhalation, but a final determination will not be made until toxicology tests are completed.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Despite being repeatedly beaten with a sawed-off shotgun, a Sheldon Street resident refused to give up his money to a would-be robber who attacked him in his yard last night, police said.
The 39-year-old victim was struck several times in the arms and legs in the 8:40 p.m. robbery attempt, but refused to give up the money he received after cashing his Social Security check, police Detective Dan Kennedy said this morning.

Nancy Lynn Stanovnik, 73, of Edgewater, who loved animals, died Thursday, Feb 5, 2009.

Germaine Marshakk, 96, of New Smyrna Beach, a homemaker, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.

Jane Ann Lund-Blaszkowski, 75, of New Smyrna Beach, a former member of the New Smyrna Yacht Club and Elks Lodge No. 1557, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009.

                                                                             NSBNEWS.net video above by Sera King and photos below by Henry Frederick. An elderly man prished early this morning in a house fire that also claimed his dog on Cory Drive in Edgewater.

EDGEWATER -- The body of a man belived to be in his early 60s was found inside the back of a home just south of Edgewater that caught fire this morning, said Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson.

Fire and law enforcement officials are on the scene investigating the blaze at 118 S. Cory Drive. The fire was called in by a neighbor at 7:49 a.m. Edgewater Fire Department units were first to arrive at the scene.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. The DIRECTV blimp that was utilized to help broadcast the Super Bowlfor NBC won by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the St. Louis Cardinals, was serviced days earlier at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport. 

EDGEWATER -- A 53-year-old Oak Hill man was charged with theft after spending three hours Friday at Dustin's Bar B-Q restaurant on U.S. 1, where he ate beans, two hamburgers and drank a dozen cups of coffee, before walking outside to light up a cigarette and explaining to the pursuing manager that he had no money, Edgewater police reported.

Gary James Benben emptied his pockets after lighting up in front of Dustin's Manager Valerie Dunford at 4:45 p.m., explaining he didn't have his wallet on him, according to the police report.