Ormond Beach shooter was renting an unlicensed Airbnb, according to state board

Living near homes or apartments that provide short-term rental services through companies like Airbnb and Vrbo means you never know who your temporary neighbors might be.

This week, residents at the Kingston Shores Condominiums at 5500 Ocean Shore Blvd. in Ormond-by-the-Sea had the worst of surprises when they were evacuated after a 56-year-old man opened fire at other residents and condo units from the Airbnb authorities said he was renting.

Joseph DiFusco of Connecticut was in a six-hour standoff with Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies before a SWAT team sniper killed him.

Police estimated that DiFusco fired an estimated 200 rounds of ammunition during the incident. No one else was killed, according to the sheriff’s office.

Short-term rentals, such as those used for Airbnbs and Vrbos, require a license with the State of Florida, and according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the condo DiFusco was renting was not licensed.

More coverage: Man killed by Florida deputies after shooting at neighbors, deputies from condo. What to know

Can you bring a gun to Airbnb, Vrbo stays?

When renting through popular agencies, are occupants allowed to have guns (a shotgun, a handgun, and a Tommy gun — a type of submachine gun) and ammunition on site?

According to both companies’ policies, guests can bring certain kinds of weapons if hosts do not have a gun restriction in their listing.

Even so, Airbnb guests “may bring legally-owned weapons or non-lethal weapons only if safely secured and disclosed to your host prior to arrival,” according to its website.

These can be “standard firearms, air guns, self-defense or deterrent devices such as tasers or pepper spray, ammunition of any kind and imitation firearms.”

Airbnb prohibits “explosive devices, incendiary devices or assault weapons,” which “are never allowed at a stay or experience, even if it’s legal to have them in your area.”

Vrbo’s policy says guests “planning to bring a weapon during your stay (for example, on a hunting trip), contact the host to ask about their Weapons Policy.”

Are Airbnb, Vrbo hosts required to disclose presence of guns?

Yes, both companies require hosts to disclose the presence of their guns in their property to guests.

“All weapons that are present at a listing must be properly stored and secured,” Airbnb policy states. “If a weapon is in plain sight or discoverable by guests, hosts are required to indicate its presence in their house rules.”

The company considers “locked cases or cabinets and visible locking devices” as acceptable storage options for weapons in the unit.

Vrbo’s policy instructs guests who find an undisclosed weapon that isn’t stored and secured during their stay to “inform the host to securely store it or remove it from the property.”

The company can provide guests assistance if the host fails to address the concern, according to the company’s website.

Do Airbnb and Vrbo do background checks on guests?

According to Airbnb’s website, the company “may perform a background check” for a “US-based user who creates a listing, or is associated with a booking” if Airbnb has access to that person’s first and last names and date of birth.

Background check providers hired by Airbnb use the information to “check the person’s identity against public records or publicly available databases.”

While “lesser crimes” like “disorderly conduct or marijuana possession” are not considered “removable offenses,” other more severe and recent crimes “may result in further review, removal or ineligibility for some time.”

These include “felony burglary and felony larceny (14 years) or fraud or property damage (seven years),” according to Airbnb policy. “Cases such as murder, terrorism, rape or child molestation may result in permanent removal.”

According to Vrbo’s website, when hosts receive booking requests, they may find that “some guests have a badge that says ‘Verified Identity’ next to their name.”

That means the company was able to confirm that guest’s “physical address, date of birth and other personal information.”

The company’s website does not specifically indicate whether its process includes checking for guests’ criminal history.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Airbnb, Vrbo gun rules: Can guests bring weapons during their stays?

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