Florida deputy dies after being shot in line of duty, sheriff says

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – A Walton County deputy died after being shot Wednesday by a suspect whom the deputy fatally shot in return, according to the sheriff.

The shooting took place at a Dollar General along U.S. 90 near Lancelot Road, just outside of De Funiak Springs, Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson, Jr. said during a news conference Wednesday.

Deputy William May — who was not supposed to be working that day, yet volunteered to provide assistance — responded to the Dollar General around 2 p.m. in reference to an individual who was allegedly causing a disturbance and needed to be trespassed, Adkinson said. After May met with the suspect and had a discussion that lasted all of 10 to 15 seconds, the suspect shot May after they both exited the store, according to the sheriff.

“Within 10 seconds of the suspect walking out of the store with Deputy May behind him, that suspect drew a firearm and fired multiple rounds, striking Deputy Will May,” Adkinson said. “Deputy May, to his great personal credit and courage, was able to draw his firearm and return fire. This short but violent gunfight resulted in at least 18 rounds being fired, with both individuals being hit.”

The suspect died at the scene, and Deputy May called for assistance, announcing he had been shot, according to the sheriff. After an attempt to airlift May was found to be impossible given area conditions, Walton County Fire Rescue took the injured deputy to North Okaloosa Medical Center, where medical staff worked for the next four hours to try to save his life, the sheriff described.

“Will fought the entire time, from returning fire on scene to fighting for his own life,” Adkinson said.

Deputy May died at 7:10 p.m., according to the sheriff.

“Will had been a member of this organization officially since around 2014. He started as a communication officer and then later, in 2019, a county deputy sheriff, so for the past six years, he’s patrolled, he’s been a field training officer since 2023. Let me tell you what that doesn’t tell you. It doesn’t tell you that he’s a second-generation member of this organization. His father’s a retired assistant fire chief, his mother’s a former dispatcher. He chose a lifetime of service,” Adkinson said, adding May was also a father and a husband.

The sheriff refused to say the suspect’s name. He said that the suspect had a concealed weapons permit and did not have a criminal record, which would indicate any level of violence.

“We’re trying to ascertain (where he’s from.) He’s been here at least for the last several years. We know that he arrived on scene by bicycle. We know where he was staying there and we had had dealings with him over the last couple of years, but for minor things such as check on the welfare,” he said. “(...) This is an interaction deputy sheriffs have every day in this county. Every day, every day. We have ‘em in traffic stops, we had one in a store. There was nothing about this to indicate — and in fact, the initial discussion between them, you can see that Deputy May, while being cautious, has no reason to believe that this is going to go anywhere. There are multiple eyewitnesses to this shooting as well, too. They were stunned as well at the speed in which this turned into a gun battle.“

Among the reactions to the fatal shooting was that of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who wrote on social media to say Deputy May died a hero while protecting others.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also paid tribute to Deputy May, saying its thoughts were with his family and those who knew him.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Thursday its sworn law enforcement officers had been ordered to don bereavement bands across their badges to honor Deputy May.

This story will be updated with information about any potential online fundraisers or other charity efforts for May’s family, should they be announced.

Note: This map depicts the general area of the shooting and not necessarily an exact location.