Man bit by ALLIGATOR is shot dead by cops during wild, drug-fueled rampage
A Florida man was shot dead by police moments after he emerged from alligator-infested waters while suffering from an apparent bite.
Timothy Schulz, 42, charged at two sheriff's deputies with gardening shears, diving into the patrol car and trying to access a gun in the moments before he was shot.
Schulz was known to authorities and faced methamphetamine charges just a week ago.
On Monday morning, authorities responded to a call about Schulz behavior. The caller revealed he was at a racetrack, shaking and asking to call his son.
Almost two hours later another witness spotted Schulz in Lakeland, south of Orlando. He was submerged in a lake known to be home to 'a lot' of alligators.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters on Monday: 'The fact that he was bitten by an alligator and still continued his rampage is shocking.
'But if you're on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that's attacking,' he added, according to CBS.
The witness had attempted to pass Schulz a life vest while he was in the lake, but he refused to take it.
He tried to climb inside the passenger side of the patrol car still holding the gardening shears (left) and making an effort to get his hands on the officers' gun
Another witness told authorities he 'growled' when approached.
He was treading water with just his head visible, but at one stage the witnesses reported seeing an alligator approach and bite his arm.
After he emerged from the water, Schulz managed to obtain gardening shears, and was seen stalking a residential area holding them in his hands.
He threw a brick at a truck, Judd added.
When he noticed authorities, he charged at them with the shears, ignoring repeated warnings to drop the weapon.
Per department policy, the deputies involved will now be placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation into the shooting
Initially, he was fired upon using a stun gun, but it had little effect, authorities said.
He then tried to climb inside the passenger side of the patrol car, making an effort to get his hands on the officers' gun.
'At that time our deputies shot multiple times,' Judd said. 'As a result, Timothy is deceased.'
Per department policy, the deputies involved will now be placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation into the shooting.
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