In the quiet town of Fort Meade, Florida, a family’s ordeal turned deadly on Friday, April 18, 2025, when 34-year-old Wayne Volz was fatally shot by law enforcement outside a Bartow Lowe’s store, leaving a Polk County sheriff’s deputy and a Bartow police officer wounded. The violent confrontation capped a day of terror that began in the Volz family home, where Wayne Volz allegedly subjected his parents to hours of fear and violence, shattering the peace of their shared residence.
The incident unfolded around 11:30 a.m. in Fort Meade, a small community about 60 miles southwest of Orlando. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, addressing reporters in a somber news conference Friday evening, detailed how Volz, described as a long-term drug addict with a history of violent behavior, got into a heated argument with his parents. In a chilling escalation, Volz allegedly pistol-whipped his mother and held a gun to his father’s forehead, demanding he beg for his life. Claiming to be “Jesus and God,” Volz confiscated his parents’ cell phones, effectively holding them hostage in their own home. His father, whose identity has not been disclosed, challenged his son’s delusional claims, asserting their family’s faith but rejecting Volz’s assertions.
As the day wore on, Volz’s father persuaded his son to let him leave for his work shift at the Lowe’s store at 425 E. Van Fleet Drive in Bartow. Volz agreed, accompanying his father but ominously stating he needed to “go to Bartow and kill a lot of people anyway.” Before reaching Lowe’s, the pair stopped in Bartow, where Volz reportedly purchased drugs, an act now under investigation by authorities. Upon arriving at the store, Volz’s father seized his chance, entering the store and alerting co-workers to the danger. They hid him from his son, who soon followed, searching for his father inside. Miraculously, no shots were fired in the crowded store. From his hiding place, the father called 911, setting the stage for a rapid law enforcement response.
Bartow police and Polk County deputies, aided by a drone operator, converged on the area near the Atkins Building on North Broadway Avenue. Around 4:30 p.m., Deputy Edwin “Ed” Alexander, a 30-year veteran, spotted Volz walking between a Florida Department of Transportation office and the Lowe’s. As officers moved to apprehend him, Volz fled, running around a building. Ignoring commands to stop, he opened fire, striking Deputy Alexander’s patrol vehicle multiple times and shooting the deputy through the forearm of his gun hand. In the ensuing gunfight, Bartow Police Officer Mark Sills, an eight-year veteran, was shot in the chest just below his badge. His ballistic vest stopped the bullet, likely saving his life.
Officers returned fire, striking Volz multiple times. He was rushed to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries. Deputy Alexander and Officer Sills were transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where both were reported in good condition and high spirits, expected to recover fully. Sheriff Judd, visibly relieved yet resolute, stated, “We shot him enough. We shot him a lot. We stopped the threat.”
The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is now investigating the shooting, with findings to be reviewed by State Attorney Brian Haas. The incident has shaken Bartow, a tight-knit community unaccustomed to such violence. Nearby, employees at Banker’s Brew Coffee hid in a bathroom, hearing up to 20 gunshots, but thankfully, no bystanders were harmed. Sheriff Judd praised the bravery of the officers, noting their actions prevented a potentially greater tragedy. For Volz’s parents, the day ended in loss, their son’s troubled life culminating in a deadly clash that spared their lives but left a community grappling with questions about mental health, addiction, and the toll of violence.