POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County man was fatally shot by deputies on Wednesday after making threats of a murder-suicide, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.
During a news briefing, Judd said that the sheriff’s office received a report about the man, identified as 41-year-old Adayn Rodriguez.
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“At about 1:30 this afternoon, (his) brother called the sheriff’s office and said that his brother, Adayn, was threatening to kill himself,” Judd explained. “Not only that — he was threatening to kill his wife. In fact, he told his brother, ‘How convenient is it that it’s (her) birthday?’”
Deputies soon arrived at the scene near Haines City, and Rodriguez came out of the home to point a gun at one of the responding deputies before heading back inside, Judd added.
Over the next hour, deputies tried to de-escalate the situation, though Rodriguez made several phone calls to 911 during this time, according to investigators.
“He in fact called one of our deputies and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you on a personal matter,’” Judd said. “Apparently, Adayn is a mechanic, and at some time in the past worked on one of the deputies’ personal vehicles.”
The deputy again tried to de-escalate the situation, though after that failed, they tried to get his wife out of the house — to no avail, Judd stated.
Instead, Rodriguez re-emerged on the home’s balcony and again pointed a gun at one of the deputies, prompting fire from two nearby deputies, according to Judd.
A lieutenant at the scene managed to strike Rodriguez with a bullet, and Rodriguez retreated back into the home, Judd said.
Meanwhile, Judd said an entry team managed to get into the house and “engaged” with Rodriguez, shooting him several times and killing him.
During a search of the home, his wife — Carla Rodriguez, 35 — was also found dead.
Following the shootout, investigators were able to secure a search warrant on Wednesday evening, Judd said.
During Wednesday’s news briefing, Judd explained that Carla Rodriguez had been taken into custody earlier this year.
In addition, Adayn Rodriguez had a criminal history involving charges of domestic violence and assault, Judd told reporters.
“What we know is that they have had ongoing problems, according to one relative, for about five years,” he said. “Carla was apparently arrested for domestic violence this last summer against him. They have three children together: two twins that are 4 years old, and I believe a 5-year-old. She has two additional children.”
However, Judd added that the children hadn’t been at the house at the time of the shooting. Instead, they were staying with their grandmother.
An investigation into the shooting is underway. No additional information has been provided at this time.
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