Florida Man Fatally Shot After Alligator Attack and Confrontation with Deputies

In the early hours of Memorial Day, a Florida man sustained a serious alligator bite while swimming across a lake known to be inhabited by the reptiles. Despite bleeding heavily from his right arm, he exited the water, armed himself with garden shears, and proceeded into a gated residential area, causing alarm among residents.

Shortly thereafter, the man, identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz from Mulberry, Florida, was fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies. Officials said the shooting occurred after Schulz charged at them with the shears, resisted being subdued with a stun gun, and attempted to seize a firearm from their patrol vehicle.

The Polk County sheriff described the incident as astonishing, emphasizing Schulz’s continued aggressive behavior despite the alligator bite. “It’s an unbelievable situation. You simply can’t fabricate something like this,” the sheriff stated during a press briefing.

Authorities revealed that Schulz had exhibited unusual behavior for at least two hours prior to the fatal confrontation in Lakeland, Florida. Investigators reconstructed the timeline using 911 calls and eyewitness accounts from neighbors who attempted to assist Schulz in his final moments. The sheriff also noted Schulz’s extensive criminal record, highlighting multiple arrests related to methamphetamine.

The chain of events began before 6 a.m. when an employee at a RaceTrac gas station on Highway 37 reported to law enforcement a man inside the store acting erratically—shaking and requesting to contact his son. Deputies responded quickly and conducted a search lasting until approximately 6:39 a.m., but Schulz had already left the scene.