This is the second one in less than a week in Polk County Florida.
Central Florida man shoots home intruder dead after ‘bizarre’ crime spree
A homeowner fatally shot a home intruder after the suspect’s “bizarre” crime spree Friday morning in Lakeland, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
The dead man, 45, and a woman who was with him had driven from Orlando to Polk County to meet someone, Judd said.
When the man broke into a resident’s home, the homeowner’s parents, wife, and a 9-year-old were also inside.
Judd said the homeowner didn’t immediately shoot, but called 911 and tried to subdue the suspect after the 6-foot, 250-pound man crashed through a glass front door, Judd said.
Deputies arrived shortly after and attempted first aid on the suspect “to no avail,” Judd said.
“This homeowner was perfectly justified in what he did,” Judd said, adding that the State Attorney’s Office will investigate and make the final determination. An investigation has been launched, Judd said.
Earlier Friday, Judd said the suspect was screaming erratically, bleeding and, according to one witness, “growling.” The man had jumped on several vehicles and broke at least one windshield; and tried to enter a school bus with at least one child on board, but the driver locked the door before he could get in.
Judd called the bus driver “a hero.”
The man had been driving a pickup north on Old Polk City Road when swerved all over the road and crashed through a fence and into a tree.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, but Judd said he had a criminal history.
Judd says his department has “no idea” what prompted the man’s behavior but added, “this has meth written all over it.”
Deputies also found a knife in the area.
The chain of events began at about 6:10 a.m.
The sheriff’s office didn’t say whether there were any injuries to woman who was with the suspect, or what her relationship to him was.
The child on the school bus was delivered to school safely.