Woman involved in crash at KFC last month died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Samantha Butler, of Alabama, was the driver of a vehicle that crashed in the parking lot of the KCF at 294 W. Granada Blvd.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 7:40 p.m. September 13, 2022

Ormond Beach Observer
News

A 29-year-old woman involved in an Aug. 26 crash died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound which occurred after the crash, Ormond Beach Police reported on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Samantha Butler, of Alabama, was the driver of a vehicle that crashed in the parking lot of the KCF at 294 W. Granada Blvd. The passenger of the vehicle, 35-year-old Roger Gilbert, also of Alabama, was arrested after he fled from the vehicle and tried to hide in the nearby Dollar Tree.

The pair were people of interest in a double homicide that took place in in Lake County the day before the crash, on Aug. 25.

OBPD previously reported that at around 9:54 a.m., on Friday, Aug. 26, officers responded to the 1400 block of West Granada Boulevard in reference to a report of a vehicle with a bullet hole. Police identified a possible suspect vehicle and issued a Be on the Lookout alert. The suspect vehicle was located at approximately 11:42 a.m. and officers conducted a traffic stop, from which the vehicle fled.

The crash took place a short time later, police reported.

According to his arrest report, Gilbert was previously convicted of a felony in Alabama in 2009. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm from Alabama. He was charged with possession of a weapon by a felon from another state, grand theft of a firearm, and resisting an officer without violence.