Florida man who claimed to be 'Jesus' died after violent encounter with officers
Wayne Volz, a Florida man, died following a violent confrontation with police after holding his parents captive and threatening to kill others.
A man in Bartow, Florida, was killed by police in a tragic turn of events, after a violent encounter that began with a domestic dispute. Wayne Volz, 34, held his parents captive for hours at their home before the situation lead to a deadly confrontation with law enforcement.
The incident occurred on April 18, 2025, ended in a shootout, leaving both officers and Volz injured. Authorities report that the man claimed to be “Jesus and God” and made homicidal threats against others. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Domestic dispute turns into death threats in Florida
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident began around 11:30 a.m. when Volz had a domestic dispute with his parents.
Sheriff Grady Judd stated in a press conference that Volz struck his mother with a handgun, an act known as “pistol whipping,” and knocked down his father when he tried to intervene. During the assault, Volz claimed to be “Jesus and God” and referred to his mother as “the devil.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Wayne Volz made homicidal threats during the journey to the store, saying he needed to go to Bartow “to kill many people.” These statements, Sheriff Judd noted, reflected the altered mental state Volz was in during the incident.
Local authorities, including Bartow Police and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, quickly responded to the scene. To aid in the search, the officers deployed a drone to locate the suspect, though, as Judd stated, “everyone was operating blindly” at the beginning of the operation due to limited information.
The drone eventually located Volz walking around the building. Officers instructed him to stop, but he ignored the command and continued moving, leading to the confrontation.
During the confrontation, Volz fired between seven and eight shots at a Sheriff’s Office vehicle, according to Judd. One of the bullets struck Deputy Sheriff Edwin Alexander, while Officer Mark Sills was shot in the chest during the exchange of gunfire. Both were taken to local hospitals and, according to authorities, are expected to make a full recovery.
Polk County Sheriff's Office vehicle. Photo: Polk County.
Florida police is investigating the Bartow incident
Following the events, the investigation was handed over to the Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force (OIDI), in accordance with protocols activated when a civilian dies during police involvement. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office’s Administrative Investigation Unit has opened a parallel investigation to determine if the officers followed proper procedures.
The autopsy is being conducted by the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death and other forensic details. Sheriff Judd stated in a press conference on April 18 that the situation was extremely dangerous, and the police action aimed to contain a direct threat to public safety in the area.
At this point, no additional charges have been filed, but the investigation may uncover new details that could lead to legal or disciplinary actions if irregularities in the police procedure are found.
According to PEOPLE, authorities are still gathering testimony and evidence from Volz's family and work environment to understand the origin of the violent episode. Furthermore, to the Sheriff's office, Volz’s father had responded to his son’s religious claims by saying, “We are people of faith, you are not God.”