Introduction to the Incident
A Florida man who was apparently bitten while swimming in alligator-infested waters Monday morning was fatally shot after, officials said, he emerged from the lake and charged at sheriff’s deputies with garden shears.
Two deputies, including a trainee, opened fire on Timothy Schulz, 42, after they deployed a stun gun that appeared to have no effect and after Schulz tried to remove a firearm from their patrol cruiser, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters.
Details of the Incident
“The fact that he was bitten by an alligator and still continued his rampage is shocking,” Judd said.
Authorities first responded to a call involving Schulz at 5:56 a.m., when he appeared at a racetrack shaking and asking to call his son, Judd said. Deputies who responded to the area could not find him, the sheriff said.
Nearly two hours later, a witness spotted Schulz in Lakeland, south of Orlando, and reported that the man was in a lake with “a lot” of alligators, Judd said.
“A witness actually took a life vest and tried to give it to him,” he said. “He wouldn’t take it.”
Another witness told authorities that Schulz growled when the person tried talking to him.
The witnesses reported that Schulz was treading water and that they could see only his head. At one point, an alligator appeared to bite his right arm, Judd said.
Confrontation with Deputies
After he emerged from the lake, Schulz was seen walking between houses in a residential area, carrying a pair of garden shears. At one point he threw a brick at a truck, Judd said.
As deputies arrived, Judd said, they saw Schulz apparently trying to break into a vehicle and quickly got out of their cruiser.
When Schulz charged at them with the shears, Judd said, they ordered him to drop the tool, then deployed the stun gun when he did not.
Schulz climbed into the passenger side of the deputies’ patrol vehicle and appeared to try and remove a rifle or shotgun, Judd said.
"At that time our deputies shot multiple times," Judd said. "As a result, Timothy is deceased."
Aftermath and Investigation
He said the deputies will remain on administrative leave while the state’s attorney’s office reviews the shooting, per department policy.
Judd said Schulz has faced several methamphetamine charges and was released from county jail most recently on May 20. An affidavit in that case says a deputy found a glass pipe in a backpack Schulz was carrying that tested positive for the drug.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the dangers and unpredictability of situations involving wild animals and individuals under the influence of substances. The actions of the deputies will be under review, but the primary concern remains the safety of both the public and law enforcement officers in such volatile situations.
FAQs
- Q: What happened to Timothy Schulz?
A: Timothy Schulz was fatally shot by deputies after charging at them with garden shears and attempting to remove a firearm from their patrol cruiser. - Q: Why was Schulz in the lake?
A: The exact reason Schulz was in the lake is not specified, but witnesses reported he was in a lake with alligators and seemed to be under distress, possibly due to an alligator bite. - Q: What will happen to the deputies involved?
A: The deputies will remain on administrative leave while the state’s attorney’s office reviews the shooting. - Q: Did Schulz have a history of drug charges?
A: Yes, Schulz had faced several methamphetamine charges and was recently released from county jail on May 20.
