Florida Man Armed with Knife Killed by Polk County Deputy After Charging Officers

Incident Overview

• 🎯 A man armed with a knife was killed by a Polk County sheriff's deputy after he charged at officers.
• 📍 The shooting occurred Friday afternoon in Lake Wales at the intersection of Longhorn Drive and Masterpiece Road.

Suspect's Actions Prior to Incident

• 🏠 The suspect had entered a neighbor's home the night before, eating from their refrigerator and startling a resident.
• 🗣️ He apologized for scaring the resident but was asked to leave.
• 💰 The following day, he returned, stating he wanted to pay for the bottle, appearing disoriented and possibly drugged.

Confrontation with Deputies

• 🏡 The man then entered other homes, telling residents he wanted to be shot.
• 🚨 A homeowner called 911, leading to the arrival of Polk County deputies.
• 🔪 Deputies repeatedly ordered the man to drop the knife, but he continued to approach them.

Deputy-Involved Shooting

• 🛡️ Deputies stated they had no choice but to defend themselves when the man approached them with the knife.
• 🗣️ Sheriff Grady Judd reported that the man multiple times expressed a desire to be killed.
• 💥 The man was shot enough times to stop the threat, an action the Sheriff commended.

Aftermath

• 💔 The 43-year-old man, reportedly from the Gainesville area, was pronounced dead at the scene.
• ⚖️ The man's name is being withheld until his family can be notified.
• ⚠️ A neighbor expressed that if the suspect had not approached deputies, the outcome might have been different.