LAKELAND, Fla. — A man who survived an alligator attack while swimming across a lake was later shot and killed by deputies after charging at them with garden shears, according to a statement by a Florida sheriff. The individual has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz.
On the morning of Memorial Day, May 26, a 911 call was made from a gas station about a man who was acting erratically and asking to contact his son, reported Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference on Facebook.
A few hours later, the sheriff’s office received another call about a man swimming in a lake behind a Lakeland residential area, where a caller observed an alligator near the swimmer, Judd stated.
The caller suspected the swimmer might be under the influence, and although a bystander attempted to offer Schulz a life preserver, he refused it, according to Judd. During the swim, Schulz appeared to have his right arm bitten by an alligator, Judd noted.
After exiting the lake, witnesses saw Schulz grabbing garden shears and attempting to break into a vehicle by throwing a brick, as described by the sheriff.
Deputies arriving at the scene reported seeing Schulz walking between homes with the shears. When he allegedly charged at them, they attempted to de-escalate the situation, using a Taser on him twice, but he remained aggressive.
Schulz then entered the passenger seat of a running patrol vehicle, attempting to seize a gun inside. This action prompted two deputies to open fire, resulting in Schulz’s death, the sheriff explained.
Sheriff Judd mentioned that Schulz had a record of meth-related arrests and had been recently released from jail less than a week prior to the incident. Judd believed Schulz might have been under the influence of drugs at the time.
Defending the deputies’ response, Judd stated that Schulz’s actions were violent, despite attempts to peacefully resolve the situation. “He showed no fear of two deputies, he showed no interest in complying,” Judd said, adding that his deputies “are going home safe tonight.”
Lakeland is situated about 35 miles east of Tampa.