Florida man swims through alligator-infested waters, then attacks police with garden shears

A Florida man swam across an alligator-infested lake, survived a gator bite, and then launched a violent attack on sheriff’s deputies with garden shears before being fatally shot, in a bizarre and deadly sequence of events that could only unfold in the Sunshine State.

The incident occurred on Memorial Day morning, May 26, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida. The man, identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz, was reportedly under the influence of methamphetamine and had been released from jail just days earlier on drug charges.

A swim with death

According to The Washington Post, Florida police first received reports of a man acting erratically at a gas station around 6 a.m. Witnesses described Schulz as shaking and asking to call his son, adding a sad note to the already tragic situation.

Deputies searched for over 40 minutes before receiving another call about a man swimming in a lake known for its alligator population. Despite being bitten on his right arm by an alligator, Schulz refused assistance and swam across the entire body of water.

After emerging from the lake, Schulz armed himself with garden shears taken from a neighbor’s yard and attempted to break into a vehicle using a brick. When deputies arrived, he charged at them with the shears.

Despite attempts to subdue him with non-lethal force, including a stun gun, Schulz managed to enter a patrol vehicle and reach for a firearm. Fearing for their safety, deputies opened fire, resulting in his death.

If you’re on enough meth “the person you see is not the person that’s attacking”

Schulz had a history of drug-related offenses and had been released from jail on May 20, 2025, after being arrested for methamphetamine possession. Authorities believe his erratic behavior was influenced by drug use.

“This is just crazy stuff, OK?” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference about the incident. “You know that it’s got to be true – you can’t make it up,” the sheriff said.

Judd added, “The fact that he was bitten by an alligator, significantly, 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.”

The incident is under investigation by a multiagency task force. Both deputies involved have been placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation