Florida Sheriff’s Deputies Fatally Shoot Man Following Suspected Alligator Attack Confrontation
Florida Deputies Involved in Fatal Shooting After Alligator Encounter
In an unusual series of events on Monday morning, a man believed to be under the influence of drugs was shot and killed by deputies in Florida. The man, identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz, had been wielding a set of garden shears shortly after being bitten by an alligator in a lake, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The incident unfolded after a store worker reported a man behaving erratically, shaking and asking to call his son. Despite deputies responding to the initial call, they were unable to locate him at that time. Just under two hours later, witnesses reported seeing Schulz swimming in a lake populated by alligators. Witnesses tried to help by offering a life preserver, but their efforts were met with resistance-one even received a growl in response.
While in the lake, Schulz was apparently bitten by an alligator on his right arm. Sheriff Judd noted the man’s tenacity and shockingly continued actions despite the injury. “The fact that he was bitten by an alligator, significantly, and still continued his rampage is shocking,” he stated. “But if you’re on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that’s attacking.”
Upon leaving the water in a gated community near Lakeland, east of Tampa, Schulz picked up garden shears left outside and attempted to break into a vehicle with a brick. When deputies arrived on the scene, they attempted to defuse the situation by telling Schulz to drop the shears and deploying a Taser twice. Despite their efforts to take him peacefully into custody, Schulz charged at them with the shears.
The situation escalated further when Schulz managed to enter the deputies’ still-running patrol vehicle from the passenger side. He attempted to seize weapons inside-either a rifle or shotgun-but was ultimately shot multiple times by the deputies.
Sheriff Judd described the events as “crazy stuff,” expressing disbelief at how surreal it all seemed. “You know that it’s got to be true, you can’t make it up,” he commented.
Schulz’s history included multiple drug-related arrests; he had just been released from jail the previous Tuesday following charges related to meth possession. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office shared details about his arrest history on their social media.
The sheriff’s office also posted photos showing bullet holes through the windshield of the patrol vehicle involved in the incident. This event is currently under investigation, and both deputies have been placed on routine administrative leave during this initial phase.
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