Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd POLK COUNTY, Fla. - The Tenth Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating a deput
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Tenth Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon in unincorporated Haines City. The incident, which tragically resulted in two deaths, followed an escalating domestic violence situation. No deputies were injured.
The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Adayn Rodriguez, was reportedly threatening to kill his wife, Karla Rodriguez, on her birthday, before taking his own life. Karla, aged 35, was found deceased inside the home following the incident.
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At around 1:30 p.m., Adayn’s brother called the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, stating that Adayn had made threats to kill both his wife and himself, saying, “Today’s the day she’s going to die, and then I’m going to kill myself.” Deputies quickly responded to the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, Adayn initially emerged from the second floor of the home, pointed a gun at deputies, and then retreated inside. For approximately an hour, law enforcement negotiated with Adayn, who made several phone calls, including to a deputy he had worked with previously. Despite attempts to calm the situation, Adayn continued making violent threats, claiming he had smoked methamphetamine and that his impending suicide would be painless.
The standoff escalated when Adayn once again stepped onto the balcony and pointed his gun at deputies. A lieutenant stationed at the perimeter fired a shot at Adayn, who retreated inside the house. Shortly after, an entry team entered the home and engaged Adayn, who was fatally shot during the encounter.
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Both Adayn and his wife Karla were found deceased inside the home. It remains unclear when Karla was killed, and the timeline of events inside the house is still under investigation. Sheriff Judd noted that Adayn had a history of domestic violence and aggravated assault, while Karla had been arrested for domestic violence earlier in the year.
No family members, including the couple’s three children, were present in the home during the incident. The children, including twin four-year-olds and a five-year-old, were with their grandmother at the time.
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The investigation, conducted by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Task Force, is ongoing, with findings to be reviewed by State Attorney Brian Haas.
“If you pull a gun on us, we’re going to shoot you. We didn’t choose to shoot Adayn. He chose for us to shoot him, and we obliged him,” said Sheriff Judd, emphasizing the deputies’ actions to protect themselves and others.
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