Florida Man Fatally Shot by Deputies After Surviving Alligator Attack and Charging with Shears

LAKELAND, Fla. — A Florida man who appeared to survive an alligator bite while swimming across a lake was shot and killed by deputies after he allegedly charged at them with a pair of garden shears and tried to grab a firearm from a patrol vehicle, authorities said.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd identified the man as Timothy Schulz, 42, during a Memorial Day news conference streamed on social media.

The incident began early Monday, May 26, when deputies received a 911 call from a gas station where a man was reportedly behaving erratically and asking bystanders to contact his son.

Hours later, another call came in reporting a man swimming across a lake behind a residential neighborhood in Lakeland—about 35 miles east of Tampa. A witness noticed a nearby alligator and suspected the man was under the influence of drugs. A bystander threw him a life preserver, but Schulz refused the help, according to Sheriff Judd.

At some point during the swim, Schulz was bitten on his right arm, presumably by an alligator. He managed to exit the lake and was seen bleeding, Judd said.

After reaching land, Schulz allegedly grabbed a pair of garden shears, tried to break into a vehicle by hurling a brick, and was later spotted walking between homes still holding the shears.

Deputies arrived on the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation. According to Judd, they deployed a Taser twice but said Schulz remained aggressive. The confrontation escalated further when Schulz jumped into the passenger seat of a running patrol vehicle and allegedly attempted to seize a firearm.

At that point, two deputies opened fire, fatally striking him.

Sheriff Judd defended the deputies’ actions, noting that Schulz had recently been released from jail and had a record involving methamphetamine-related arrests.

“He showed no fear of two deputies, he showed no interest in complying,” Judd said. “They tried everything they could to resolve this peacefully, but he was violent and posed a direct threat. Our deputies are going home safe tonight.”

The incident remains under investigation. Authorities are also reviewing Schulz’s toxicology results to determine if drugs played a role in his behavior.