Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Suspect Shot by Florida Deputy was “Asking to be Killed”

Polk County Deputy Lindsey Clem, 30, arrived on scene where she was confronted by the unidentified man coming toward her and pulling a knife from his pocket. Clem told the man to drop the knife several times, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

by Staff
April 15, 2025
Suspect Shot by Florida Deputy was “Asking to be Killed”

Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd speaks at a press conference about a deputy-involved shooting that killed man wielding a knife.

Credit:

Screen Shot from Polk County SO Video

1 min to read



A Polk County, Florida, sheriff's deputy shot and killed an armed man who was breaking into homes "asking to be killed," according to the Sheriff's Office.

Ad Loading...

Sheriff Grady Judd said the department received a 911 call Friday at about 12:50 p.m. reporting a suspicious 43-year-old man who had wandered into a homeowner's garage asking for a gun, stating he wanted to be shot and killed, the Ledger reports.

The 78-year-old homeowner said he managed to make the unidentified man leave his garage without anyone being injured.

The man went into a second home, where a woman said she was asked if she had a gun because he wanted to be killed. The homeowner called 911.

Polk County Deputy Lindsey Clem, 30, arrived on scene where she was confronted by the unidentified man coming toward her and pulling a knife from his pocket. Clem told the man to drop the knife several times, Judd said, and called for backup while trying to put the patrol car between herself and the man.

A second deputy, Clint Wofford, 35, arrived on the scene, shifting the armed man's attention. Wofford also told the man to drop the weapon.

Ad Loading...

When the man did not, Wofford fired his gun multiples times, striking the man. The suspect died on the scene.


More Patrol

image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Read More →