LAKELAND, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd gave an update Tuesday night after a deadly deputy-involved shooting in Lakeland.
It happened just before 9:30 p.m. on the 2900 block of Socrum Loop Road West. Sheriff Judd said the sheriff’s office received a call from the Veteran’s Crisis Line reporting a man in a dispute with his wife after a day of drinking.
The man, identified as 76-year-old Ronald Breese, was holding a gun to his head.
According to Judd, deputies arrived and began speaking with Breese’s wife. Moments later, Breese fired at one of the deputies, prompting four deputies to return fire. Breese was struck and died at the scene despite first aid efforts.
Sheriff Judd said Breese had no history of violence or prior mental health issues. The investigation is ongoing.
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