Polk County deputy shoots, kills man during burglary investigation

LAKE WALES, Fla. – Sheriff’s deputies in Polk County shot and killed a man they say charged at them with a knife after wandering into a Lake Wales home Friday.

Sheriff Grady Judd said the man, who was not identified, wandered into the garage of the home on Masterpiece Road with a knife and asked for a gun. Witnesses believed he was on drugs.

When deputies arrived, they told the man to put the knife down before shooting and killing him.

Judd said the suspect, who was a 43-year-old man from the Gainesville area, “asked to be shot... so we obliged.”

Judd said neighbors believed he was the same man who walked into a home while the residents were home on Thursday night, stole food from a refrigerator, and then jumped on the backyard trampoline.

No deputies were hurt.