A Florida man, Timothy Schulz, 42, was fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies after he emerged from a lake, where he had reportedly been bitten by an alligator, and charged at officers wielding garden shears. At 5:56 a.m., Schulz was first seen at a racetrack, exhibiting signs of distress and asking for his son. However, deputies were unable to locate him initially. Nearly two hours later, witnesses spotted him in a lake known for alligators, where one appeared to bite his arm while he treaded water. Despite attempts from a witness to rescue him with a life vest, Schulz declined assistance and reportedly growled when spoken to.
After exiting the lake, Schulz displayed increasingly erratic behavior, vandalizing property and attempting to break into vehicles while carrying garden shears. When deputies arrived, they ordered him to drop the shears as he charged at them. After a stun gun failed to subdue him, Schulz attempted to access a firearm from the deputies’ patrol vehicle. In response, the deputies fired multiple shots, resulting in his death.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described the incident as shocking, given Schulz’s previous alligator bite. The deputies involved are on administrative leave while the state’s attorney reviews the shooting, adhering to department policy. Schulz had a criminal history, including several charges related to methamphetamine, and had been released from jail shortly before the incident.
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