21-Year-Old FL Deputy Killed by Friendly Fire During Warrant Service
Deputy Blane Lane had taken a “tactical position” outside of the suspect’s mobile home. Two other deputies had confronted the suspect who pointed a pistol at them.

PolK County Sheriff Grady Judd holds a photo of the suspect. He says her actions led to the blue-on-blue killing of Deputy Blane Lane. (Photo: Polk County SO/Facebook Video)
A 21-year-old Polk County (FL) Sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed early Tuesday morning during a warrant service operation. Sheriff Grady Judd said in an afternoon press conference that Deputy Blane Lane was hit when fellow deputies fired on the suspect.
Deputy Lane and three other deputies were serving a failure to appear warrant in Polk City around 3 a.m. when the incident occurred.
Lane had taken a “tactical position” outside of the suspect’s mobile home. Two other deputies had confronted the suspect who pointed a pistol at them.
When the deputies opened fire on the suspect, Cheryl Lynn Williams, she was hit twice but one of the rounds passed through the exterior wall striking Deputy Lane in the shoulder. It was discovered at the hospital that the bullet traveled into Lane’s chest cavity and he died.
Sheriff Judd said the gun Williams, 46, reportedly pointed at the deputies was a replica “BB gun.” He said he thinks she was attempting to commit “suicide by cop.”
Williams was transported to the hospital. She is expected to survive. Judd said she will be charged with second degree felony murder. She was originally wanted for failure to appear on possession of methamphetamine.
The sheriff said Williams had served nine years in Florida state prison for meth trafficking. He also said she had a long history of felony charges.
“It is our goal to see that she’s incarcerated for the rest of her natural life,” Judd said.
“She created this entire event,” Judd added. “She forced the shooting.”
Deputy Lane was the father of a three-year-old child.
Judd said the deputy had only eight-and-a-half months of experience on patrol. “He performed at a high level,” the sheriff said. “He was professional in every sense.”
The shooting is under investigation by a multiple jurisdiction team.
“This is a dangerous job,” Judd said. He added that Deputy Lane did “exactly what he should have done” by taking a position to prevent the suspect’s escape out of the mobile home and to prevent anyone else from coming in.
“This is a dangerous job,” Judd said several times during the press conference.
He said Polk County deputies are devastated by the tragedy.
“Words can’t adequately explain our grief,” the sheriff said, adding, “For me, this is like losing one of my own children.”
More Patrol

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement
Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.
Read More →
Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout
Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.
Read More →
Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight
Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.
Read More →
5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals
The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.
Read More →
SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade
SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.
Read More →
POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL
The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.
Read More →
NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE
Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →