Polk County

‘Exceptionally tragic’: Sheriff: Polk County deputy, 21, fatally shot while serving warrant

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 21-year-old Polk County deputy was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant early Tuesday morning, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Judd called the shooting, “exceptionally tragic.”

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Judd said a bullet from one of his deputies killed another deputy while they were serving a warrant overnight. Deputy Blane Lane died in the hospital.

Lane joined the force two years ago.

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Investigators said he and other deputies went to arrest Cheryl Williams, who has a lengthy criminal history, on a felony drug warrant.

Judd said Williams pointed a BB gun at deputies, who then shot her.

The sheriff said one of those bullets hit Lane in the shoulder and his chest, leading to Lane’s death.

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The fallen deputy was honored during a prcessional Tuesday morning.

Williams remained in the hospital as of Tuesday afternoon.

See a map of the scene below:

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.