In Lakeland, Florida, a horrific chain of events led to a shocking conclusion. Timothy Schulz, 42, was shot to death by sheriff’s deputies after an alligator attacked him while swimming in a Florida swamp at dawn. The incident unfolded in a gated community lake, prompting residents to call authorities at 7:43 AM to report Schulz’s presence in the water.
Officials say Schulz was swimming in the lagoon when he was bitten by an alligator. His arm was severely injured from that bite, which may have required amputation. Upon coming onto land, he allegedly began to act erratically which resulted in him being confronted by law enforcement.
Schulz had a troubled past, with a history of drug-related arrests, including a recent release from prison on May 20 for possession of methamphetamine. And now Schulz’s mental state is under additional and intense scrutiny thanks to Sheriff Grady Judd. In Schulz’s case, he argued drug use had played a role in Schulz’s actions.
As deputies pulled up to her home, they were met by Schulz, who was armed with garden shears and threatened deputies. Witnesses said he tried to get into a patrol car and ran toward deputies while swinging the garden shears. Retreating to reestablish the deputies’ tactical advantage, the deputies decided to once again retake control of the situation using a stun gun. Unfortunately, both efforts failed.
When Schulz from his kneeling position attempted to reach for the deputies’ weapons, they were forced to use deadly force. Judd emphasized the random nature of Schulz’s rampage, illustrating why it was so important the shooter be apprehended quickly.
“This is just crazy stuff, OK? You know that it’s got to be true – you can’t make it up.” – Grady Judd
Judd pointed out that Schulz’s drug use could have played a role in her actions. He stressed, “If you’re sufficiently high on meth, the attacker you’re fighting is actually you.”
That tragic event has raised alarm about safety throughout the community. It illustrates the difficult situations law enforcement encounters in attempting to protect and serve people high on these drugs. These investigations are still ongoing. In the coming days, the sheriff’s office will provide further information about what led to this tragic result.