- Wayne Volz, 34, claimed to be “Jesus and God” during a violent domestic dispute.
- Volz pistol-whipped his mother and threatened his father, holding them hostage.
- Told his father he wanted to “kill a lot of people” in Bartow.
- Opened fire on deputies, injuring one, before being fatally shot.
A disturbing scene unfolded in Bartow, Florida, when a man who claimed he was both “Jesus and God” was fatally shot by law enforcement following a violent domestic incident and a tense confrontation at a local store.
The man, identified as 34-year-old Wayne Volz, was killed on Friday, April 18, shortly before 5:30 p.m., after authorities responded to reports of a volatile domestic dispute earlier that morning in Fort Meade, a small town about 45 miles east of Tampa.
Bartow Police Chief Steve Walker and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that Volz and his parents had a violent disagreement at 11:30 a.m. that same day. Volz is accused of engaging in “pistol-whipping” hitting his mother with a gun and assaulting his father when he attempted to step in during the event.
Witnesses say Volz shouted, “Do you want to die today?” at his father, and threatened both parents while ranting about being divine. He reportedly declared himself “Jesus and God,” called his mother “the devil,” and confiscated their phones, holding them hostage in their own home for several hours.
As the situation escalated, Volz’s father convinced him to leave the house under the pretense of going to work at a Lowe’s store in Bartow. Shockingly, Volz allegedly said he planned to “go to Bartow and kill a lot of people.”
Upon arrival at the store, the father quickly informed coworkers of the threat. The employees acted fast, hiding him and contacting 911, setting off a rapid police response.
When officers and deputies from both Bartow Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, they had little knowledge of Volz’s exact location. Sheriff Judd later noted that officers were “running blind.”
Authorities used a drone to assist in locating Volz, eventually spotting him outside the store. Despite commands to stop, he fled. In the ensuing chase, Volz reportedly opened fire on a Sheriff’s vehicle, discharging seven to eight rounds, one of which struck Deputy Edwin Alexander.
Law enforcement returned fire, and Bartow Police Officer Mark Sills was hit in the chest during the exchange. Volz sustained critical injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
According to People, Both injured officers were treated at local hospitals and are expected to recover fully.
Sheriff Judd confirmed that Volz was known to authorities as a drug addict and had a history of erratic behavior. The Polk County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy, while the Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force and the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit have launched formal investigations into the shooting.
Authorities are continuing to gather information on the case, seeking to piece together the events that led to this violent and tragic outcome.
