Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

October 23, 2023      

         

State of Florida v. Walter Francis Russell

State of Florida v. Joseph McDonald

State of Florida v. Shawntell Adkins       

                                                                             

Russell Case Number: 2023-304656 CFDB

McDonald Case Number: 2023-102168 CFDL

Adkins Case Number: 2023-304825 CFDB

 

Three Volusia County Defendants Indicted on Murder Charges

DELAND – A new Volusia County Grand Jury was chosen today and heard its first three cases.

The first case was that of Walter Russell. The defendant is accused of taking his wife’s gun and shooting three people at a homeless camp in Edgewater on October 5, 2023. One of the victims died from his injuries at the scene.

The second case was that of Joseph McDonald. The defendant is accused of stabbing a man multiple times inside a Deltona home on October 8, 2023. The victim died from his injuries at the hospital.

The last case was that of Shawntell Adkins. The defendant is accused of shooting a woman in the head inside their Daytona Beach home on October 19, 2023. The victim died from her injuries at the scene.

The indictments were handed down on Monday afternoon. Russell was indicted for First-Degree Murder, two counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. McDonald and Adkins were both indicted for First-Degree Murder.

Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak is the state prosecutor for the cases against Russell, McDonald and Adkins.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org