Law enforcement is one of the toughest jobs in the county.
Officers never know when they will have to put it all on the line.
And a Florida sheriff’s deputy faced a tragic situation after going into Dollar General.
Sheriff’s deputy killed in a shootout at a Dollar General in the Florida panhandle
Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May covered for someone on his day off when he responded to a call about a disturbance in Mossy Head, Florida at a Dollar General.
May went into the retailer to deal with the customer who was being disruptive.
Once the pair left the store, a gun battle ensued where at least 18 rounds were fired.
May killed the suspect in the shootout but sustained fatal wounds.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. said that it took two minutes for backup to arrive at the Dollar General.
“This is an agency in shock and in disbelief that this happened, and certainly that it happened this way: At 2 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon for something where an arrest was not going to be made,” Adkinson explained. “The subject being dealt with was not even going to be arrested. They were simply asking him to leave. Twenty-five to 30 seconds after his arrival, (May) was mortally wounded. It does not make sense.”
Adkinson said that the suspect had no criminal record and was a licensed concealed carry permit holder.
Bad weather prevented the sheriff’s deputy from being airlifted to a hospital
May was about to be done with his shift when he responded to the call at the Dollar General where he was supposed to escort the suspect from the store.
“There was a brief discussion, 10 to 15 seconds, in which the suspect exited the store with Deputy May walking behind him,” Adkinson stated.
No one was sure why the situation turned into a deadly shootout.
“Within 10 seconds of the suspect walking out of the store … that suspect drew a firearm and fired multiple rounds, striking Deputy May. 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 killed,” Atkinson said.
May called for help but the windy conditions in the area meant that a helicopter could not airlift him to the nearest hospital.
He was taken to the North Okaloosa Medical Center which is about 17 miles away.
After four hours he succumbed to his gunshot wounds.
The sheriff’s deputy left behind a wife and two children.
May was wearing a bulletproof vest but it was not enough.
“Deputy May was wearing a ballistic vest,” Adkinson said. “That vest did stop multiple rounds from the suspect. One of the rounds went underneath the vest, which ultimately caused his death.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered his condolences on social media.
“[Casey DeSantis] and I are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May, who was killed yesterday in the line of duty. He died a hero protecting others and stopping a dangerous assailant. We pray for his wife and children and remember him for his bravery and service,” DeSantis wrote on X.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
