POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An armed veteran was killed in a deputy-involved shooting at his home on Tuesday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, deputies initially said the incident happened in the 2900 block of Socrum Loop Road West in Lakeland.
“No deputies were injured, and a suspect was shot,” the release reads.
The suspect was later identified as 76-year-old Ronald Breese, and deputies confirmed that he died. In addition, the sheriff’s office announced Breese didn’t have any criminal history.
During a news conference afterward, Sheriff Grady Judd said that Breese — a veteran who had done three tours of Vietnam — and his wife had reportedly been drinking alcohol earlier in the day.
“He called the Veterans Crisis Line this afternoon. He said there were five guns in his residence, and he had every intention of hurting himself,” Judd explained. “He had a gun in his hand, and he would not put it down.”
In response, the crisis help line contacted the sheriff’s office, which dispatched deputies out to Breese’s home.
“Ronald Breese was sitting in a chair on the porch with a gun to his head,” Judd continued. “The deputies started de-escalating, trying to talk to Ronald, and they thought — according to the early information that they had — that the wife was also in the house."
However, Breese’s wife actually pulled into the driveway as this was happening, and she jumped out of the car, starting toward her husband, Judd stated.
Deputies tried to stop her, though she ignored them, causing one of the deputies to run and tackle her in order to keep her safe, the sheriff said.
“At that moment, Ronald could see what was occurring, and he jumped up, and it’s told to us that he fired at least one shot at the deputies,” Judd added. “Four deputies returned fire.”
Now, the State Attorney’s Office and the PCSO are investigating the deputy-involved shooting.
“But it’s clear to us at this early stage of the investigation: those deputies had to shoot to protect themselves and to protect his wife,” Judd concluded. “We don’t know why he was acting like that. Preliminarily, we’re told they’re drinking and he was upset over some kind of business deal or business transaction. We can’t verify that.”
No additional information has been provided at this time.
For veterans struggling with mental health, the Veterans Crisis Line can be reached by calling 988 and then pressing 1. Alternatively, click here.