Here's what makes 16-year-old Florida convicted felon feel 'like Superman': Sheriff



Jonathan Granados — a 16-year-old from Lakeland, Florida — is not an unfamiliar face to law enforcement in the area.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the youngster has a carjacking conviction under his belt and was on a conditional release when he recently perpetrated a number of new felonies.

'If he’s Superman, then my detectives are his kryptonite.'

The sheriff's office said it got a call on April 2 from a roofing business indicating that employees found spent shell casings on the ground.

Officials said a review of the company's security video showed a silver Chevrolet Malibu arriving and parking, after which an unidentified male approached the car on foot and shot at it multiple times until the driver fled in the vehicle. The suspect then ran away, officials said.

Detectives were able to identify the driver of the Malibu as a 19-year-old from Lakeland, officials said.

On April 9, deputies stopped the Malibu, and detectives responded to the traffic stop to interview the 19-year-old, who lied and said his car was shot when it was parked at his home while he was sleeping, authorities said.

The 19-year-old made several inconsistent statements regarding why his car was hit with so many gunshots, until he was told about the roofing business' security video, officials said, adding that he admitted to being at the roofing business when the shooting occurred.

He told detectives that he arrived in the area to fight with someone but wouldn't divulge the name of the individual, officials said.

RELATED: Thug with long rap sheet attacks 64-year-old ex-girlfriend in convenience store; when good Samaritan tries to intervene, attacker beats him unconscious: Authorities

Image source: Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

Investigating detectives obtained search warrants for the Malibu and the 19-year-old’s cell phone and social media accounts, officials said, adding that authorities determined that on the date of the shooting, the victim was headed to Granados' house before diverting due to a law enforcement presence. Instead, the victim went to the roofing company and told Granados to meet him there, officials said.

Granados also was identified as being part of an Instagram chat that law enforcement said was related to meeting up for the fight.

The sheriff's office said an affidavit indicates Granados used "ambush tactics" while approaching the victim's car and firing a gun "in an attempt to kill" the victim; in addition, the affidavit adds that Granados' shots hit the silver Chevrolet Malibu which the victim "occupied," according to authorities.

With that, detectives went to Granados' home to take him into custody on a warrant and during a search found a loaded Glock model 19 9mm handgun with an extended magazine containing 28 rounds — and modified with a "switch" that illegally gives it a fully automatic firing capability, officials said.

Granados admitted to owning the gun, ordering the switch online, and installing it himself, authorities noted, adding that the affidavit also says Granados told detectives he "felt like Superman" when he fired the gun.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd had the following to say about the teen's "Superman" reference: "If he’s Superman, then my detectives are his kryptonite."

RELATED: Florida Sheriff Grady Judd blasts squatters as 'dopers and freeloaders,' warns they're in for a 'one-way ride to the county jail'

Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff Grady JuddImage source: Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

Officials said Granados was charged with the following felonies:

  • Attempted first-degree murder
  • Shooting into an occupied vehicle
  • Shooting into a building
  • Possession of a machine gun
  • Possession of a firearm/ammunition by an adjudicated juvenile
  • Giving false information to law enforcement

Authorities added that Granados also was charged with two misdemeanors: discharging a firearm in public and violation of probation.

The sheriff's office on Friday told Blaze News that Granados is being housed in a section of Polk County Jail reserved for juveniles — or "pre-adjudicated youth."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida sheriff nabs 5 illegal aliens tied to Tren de Aragua — presses Trump for fast deportation fix



The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced that it busted five illegal aliens tied to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Sheriff Grady Judd detailed the arrests during a Friday press briefing, explaining that two of the suspects were confirmed TDA members and the other three were identified as “associates.”

'PCSO detectives obtained arrest warrants charging all five with robbery, which is upgraded to a first degree felony due to their gang status.'

The men, who are reportedly all in the U.S. illegally, were accused of a string of liquor store robberies in Florida.

The sheriff’s office stated that the illegal aliens attempted to steal $3,200 worth of “high-end liquor” from a Sam’s Club in March. When a store employee tried to stop the robbery, the men rammed her with the shopping cart, injuring her hand, Judd said.

The illegal aliens reportedly disabled their getaway vehicle after driving over a concrete curb in the store’s parking lot. They left the car behind and fled in an Uber, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Two of the suspects were positively identified and detectives determined they were incarcerated in Osceola County for a different robbery,” a press release from the sheriff’s office read. “Those suspects are Samuel Oglis David Anthony Charle, 25, and Ildemaro Miguel Escalona Mendoza, 26. Once the three other suspects were identified – Alexis Jose Rodriguez-Benavides, 27, Darwins Smith Vasquez Leon, 28, and Ramon Jesus Carpintero-Luna, 26 – PCSO detectives obtained arrest warrants charging all five with robbery, which is upgraded to a first degree felony due to their gang status.”

The men have been tied to “over three dozen retail thefts” across the state. The total losses from their theft reportedly reached over $30,000, the sheriff’s office estimated.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed detainers against all five of the suspects. They remain in local custody while facing first-degree felony charges. Grady noted that more charges are expected.

During the press briefing, Grady closed his remarks by urging President Donald Trump to take executive action to speed up the deportation process.

“We’ve got to have policy change to make an appreciable difference. We got the same old clunky system that’s ineffective at best and horribly broken in reality. And to try to move it along, it is just slow,” Grady stated. “The feds are helping and working hard on the local level. They don’t have the policy change that allows this to speed up, and the word’s got to get to the president.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida sheriff warns illegal aliens to self-deport in 3 words; DeSantis vows Florida will back Trump's immigration crackdown



An outspoken Florida sheriff has issued a blunt warning to illegal immigrants in the Sunshine State to get out of the state before sweeping new deportation efforts go into effect. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has proposed a whirlwind of propositions to crack down on illegal immigration and push President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policy.

Joined by DeSantis at a press conference regarding illegal immigration in Winter Haven, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd (R) declared that illegal immigrants should deport themselves out of the state of Florida to avoid time in prison.

'The mission is very simple: We need to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all in these United States of America.'

"And I leave with this message: 'Southbound and down.' Do it yourself. You can self-deport and avoid a lot of prison sentence, but it's time. Southbound and down," Sheriff Judd said on Wednesday.

Judd proclaimed, "Florida needs to set the example for the other states and support the president [Trump] to get rid of these criminals who are victimizing our people."

During the press conference, Judd highlighted specific crimes carried out by illegal immigrants, including cases of murder, DUI manslaughter, and organized theft rings.

DeSantis declared that Florida will do everything in its power to execute Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

"We in Florida have a sense of urgency to accomplish this mission," DeSantis stated. "The mission is very simple: We need to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all in these United States of America."

Florida sued the Biden administration on several occasions, including over its "illegal" catch-and-release policies and alleged refusal to assist the state in purging noncitizens from voter rolls in the 2024 election.

DeSantis scheduled a special session to begin a week after Trump's inauguration to determine how the state would implement extensive rules to combat the immigration crisis. The special session would discuss how to secure funds for "detention, relocation, transportation infrastructure, local law enforcement support, and everything else needed for Florida to carry out this mission."

“State and local officials in Florida must help the Trump administration enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” DeSantis previously said. “In order to do that effectively, we are going to need legislation to impose additional duties on local officials and provide funding for those local officials. There also needs to be measures to hold people accountable for violating our anti-sanctuary policies and that Florida needs to make sure that we don’t have any lingering incentives for people to come into our state illegally.”

As Blaze News reported last week, DeSantis set the tone for other Republican governors by pushing legislation that will crack down on illegal immigration. DeSantis called for a state crime for migrants illegally entering the United States, requiring proof of U.S. residency to vote, and repealing in-state college tuition for illegal immigrant students.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that DeSantis penned a four-page memo to Florida legislative leaders that called for powers for the governor to suspend or criminally charge local officials in Florida who don’t train at least 10% of their law enforcement staff to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. DeSantis also wants powers to punish any Florida politician who doesn't impose his rigorous immigration rules that are likely coming.

Sheriffs Gregory Tony of Broward County and Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County have already proclaimed that their departments would not use officer resources for the mass deportation of illegal aliens, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Trump previously said his mass deportation endeavor would depend on local police.

“We’re going to be using local police because local police know them by name, by first name, second name, and third name. I mean they know them very well,” Trump told Time magazine in April.

When asked about local police departments potentially not participating in the deportations, Trump noted that those departments "won’t partake in the riches."

Another proposed immigration bill would require law enforcement agencies to identify noncitizens who are charged with crimes. Failure by law enforcement to comply could result in first-degree misdemeanor charges for sworn officers and third-degree felony charges against elected officials.

DeSantis wants a state immigration enforcement officer who would coordinate with federal immigration officials and supervise Florida's undocumented migrant relocation program.

Another proposal is for illegal aliens to be denied bail upon arrest under the assumption that they are a flight risk.

On Thursday, DeSantis assured Florida agencies that the state would provide enough funds to assist in the widespread deportation process. DeSantis hinted at the state government building new facilities to house illegal immigrants facing deportation.

Speaking of DeSantis undertaking the illegal alien crackdown, Trump stated, "Thank you, Ron, hopefully other governors will follow!"

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Firebrand Florida sheriff blasts Biden-Harris open border after human trafficking op nets 25 illegal aliens, Disney employee



Outspoken Florida sheriff Grady Judd blasted the open border of the Biden-Harris administration after a human trafficking crackdown led to the arrests of 25 illegal aliens as well as a Disney employee.

The operation netted 157 arrestees, and Judd — who heads up the Polk County Sheriff's Office — emphasized how the border crisis has substantially exacerbated human trafficking crimes in the United States.

The sheriff's office held a press conference Thursday announcing the results of a multi-agency operation titled "Operation Autumn Sweep."

'When are we going to get tired of this? When have we had enough? When are we going to say, "The hardworking people of the United States are who we need to be taking care of."'

The five-day undercover investigation went after suspects who solicited prostitutes, offered to commit prostitution, and other suspects who committed crimes related to prostitution and other sex crimes.

"Three additional suspects were arrested for soliciting who they thought were children online, and charged with traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, and use of a computer to seduce a child," the sheriff's office said in a press release,

One of those suspects accused of child sex crimes works at Disney World.

WTVT-TV reported that the Disney World employee was out on bond for the same charges in another state — soliciting a child online.

As a result of the operation, four human trafficking victims were rescued.

According to the sheriff's office, 47 arrestees were prostitutes, 96 were johns, and one was a human trafficker. The oldest suspect was 61, and the youngest was 15. In addition, 26 arrestees were married.

Judd said of those arrested that there were 327 prior felony charges and 400 prior misdemeanor charges.

Judd noted that 25 individuals arrested in the operation were illegal immigrants.

During the press conference, Judd emphasized the border crisis led to these criminal activities in Florida.

Two of the human trafficking victims told sheriff's investigators that they had to pay off coyote debts of $6,000.

Judd pointed out that the human trafficking victims who were in the country illegally had to turn 20 "tricks" a day to pay off the coyote who brought them into the U.S. illegally. The sheriff said the victims were physically abused by their human trafficker to compel them to work as prostitutes.

Judd added that one of the female suspects from Venezuela entered the U.S. in El Paso, Texas, and said she was "greeted by the Border Patrol."

"She simply walked across the open border," the sheriff continued before stressing that "there is no border security at the southern border. Zero. It doesn't exist."

The suspect allegedly said Border Patrol processed her in one day and then told her "all about the benefits" for which she would be eligible, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, free housing, free travel to Chicago, and free travel to Florida.

Judd also ripped the Biden-Harris administration over the border crisis: "Make no mistake about it, the government is complicit, and is aiding and abetting human trafficking in the United States."

Judd pointed out that illegal immigrants are receiving federal assistance while Americans suffering from recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina are struggling.

"When are we going to get tired of this? When have we had enough? When are we going to say, 'The hardworking people of the United States are who we need to be taking care of?'" Judd asked.

This isn't the first time a Disney employee has been arrested for sex crimes.

As Blaze News previously reported in 2022, a construction subcontractor building a new roller coaster at Walt Disney World in Orlando was arrested in another Polk County Sheriff's Office sex sting.

Another Polk County Sheriff's Office undercover operation resulted in the arrest of a Disney World employee in 2022.

You can watch the full Operation Autumn Sweep press conference below:

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

2 illegal aliens arrested in largest fentanyl bust in Florida county's history: 'Didn't come here to better themselves'



Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida recently announced the "single-largest" fentanyl bust in the county's history, the department revealed in a Friday press conference, WTVT reported.

The sheriff's office launched the investigation into the illicit operation in August after it learned about an organized drug trafficking operation based out of Mexico. The department arrested four individuals in connection with the scheme and seized 14 kilograms of fentanyl, two vehicles, and $5,261 in cash. Two of the suspected criminals, Pedro Rodriguez Correa and Maria Machuca-Alderete, were in the country illegally, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The other two individuals, Maria Guadalupe-Garcia and Sergio Garcia, were from California.

"It seems like every time I come up here to talk about fentanyl with my colleagues I'm always saying, 'It's the largest fentanyl seizure in the state of Florida' and, once again, that's what I'm saying today with a seizure of 14 kilos of fentanyl," Judd stated Friday morning. "This is the single-largest seizure in the history of Polk County and that's nothing to be proud of."

One of the detained suspects, Guadalupe-Garcia, told deputies that she did not know anything about the narcotics and claimed to be delivering a box of diapers.

"When was the last time you picked up a box of Huggies that weighed 27 pounds? Maria, we don't have any Huggies in the county jail, but we will have you there," Judd said, according to WTVT.

"They didn't come here to better themselves and their family," he continued, referring to the two illegal migrants. "They came here to kill people in America with a deadly drug through a porous border that we need to seal off."

According to Judd, the amount of drugs seized in the bust is enough to kill one-third of Florida's population. He stated that the traffickers expected to be paid $42,500 for the delivery from Mexico to Florida. In total, the 14 kilogram shipment was worth $3.5 million, the office reported.

According to the sheriff's office, Rodriguez-Correa, the driver for the criminal organization, brought a six-year-old boy along for the fentanyl delivery. The Florida Department of Children and Families seized custody of the child.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Machuca-Alderete and Rodriguez-Correa for being in the country illegally.

Machuca-Alderete was charged with trafficking fentanyl, maintaining a vehicle to traffic illegal drugs, resisting arrest with violence, battery on an officer, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia, WTVT reported.

Rodriguez-Correa was charged with trafficking fentanyl, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the outlet.

Guadalupe-Garcia and Sergio Garcia were both charged with trafficking fentanyl, maintaining a vehicle to traffic illegal drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A fifth suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public, is still at large and wanted for similar charges.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said during the Friday news conference, "I would submit to you that an appropriate response would not just be, 'We are going to address the cartels with hugs, not violence.' But how about how I have demanded and suggested in that we declare the cartels terrorist organizations and we designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction."

"Over the past year, the PCSO seized 30 additional kilograms of fentanyl - about enough to kill all the people in the state of Florida," according to the sheriff's office.


Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida couple charged with manslaughter after 3-year-old died while 'rotting in the bed,' sheriff: 'I have never, ever seen anything as sad, as bone-chilling, and as sickening'



A Florida couple have been charged with manslaughter after a 3-year-old with severe injuries died earlier in the month, according to police.

Takesha Williams, 24, and Efrem Allen, Jr., 25, have been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a young child. Allen and Williams are being held at the Polk County Jail on $100,000 bond each.

WTSP reported, "Deputies say the couple noticed during the morning of May 12 that the toddler was cold to the touch, his stomach was bloated and his pulse oximeter was malfunctioning, but waited until around 3 p.m. to call 911."

The Bartow Fire Rescue and law enforcement responded to a 911 call regarding a baby in distress, and reportedly found the 3-year-old did not have a pulse. The child was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An emergency room doctor said the unidentified baby had not received proper care for months, according to police. The medical examiner said the 3-year-old had sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, and Stage 5 ulcers.

Law & Crime reported, "In what one Florida sheriff called the worst case he’s ever seen, a couple is accused of letting their comatose 3-year-old boy rot in his bed after authorities discovered his lifeless, ulcerous body with gaping wounds, no rectum, and a hole with intestines, spinal column and colon visible."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference, "But there appeared to be no life in the child. This child was rotting in the bed."

Judd stated, "They let this baby rot and die in its bed. I've done this for five decades. I have seen thousands of children abused, hundreds of children murdered at the hands of parents. I have never seen the horror that we saw with this poor child at the hands of these two folks."

Authorities suspect that Williams and Allen knew the boy was in abominable shape, but they didn't seek out help because they may have feared that the Florida Department of Children and Families would take their two other young children away. The other children were in good health, according to Judd.

Police said when the deceased boy was only 10 months old, he accidentally fell into a pool at a rental home in Davenport, Florida. He nearly drowned to death, but was left with no brain activity after the pool accident. Doctors allegedly recommended the parents remove the boy from life-sustaining measures because he would forever be in a coma.

The parents reportedly decided to keep the baby on a ventilator and feeding tube. In October, the parents purportedly began to reject health care assistance.

The parents allege that the baby was not neglected.

Judd vowed to send the couple to prison for "as long as we can."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

2 charged with manslaughter after 3-year-old with open sores, severe injuries dies in Bartow www.youtube.com

Woman hits two sheriff's deputies with car in attempt to flee. Turns out suspect has criminal history of violence against law enforcement.



A Florida woman with a criminal history of violence against law enforcement hit two sheriff's deputies with a car Saturday near Lakeland as the deputies opened fire in self-defense.

What are the details?

Deputies from the Polk County sheriff's office responded to a suspicious person call from Max Pay Pawn Shop in the 600 block of North Combee Road in unincorporated Lakeland just before 1 p.m., authorities said.

The suspect — identified as 27-year old Carina Holder of Davenport — was attempting to use a stolen credit card, authorities said.

When the deputies arrived a few minutes later and tried to speak to Holder, she got into a BMW X5 and attempted to flee the scene, authorities said.

In fact, Holder drove directly at the deputies, hitting two of them, authorities said. In fear for their lives and others' lives, deputies opened fire in an attempt to stop the car, authorities said, adding that Holder continued to flee from the scene but was caught and arrested about two miles away.

Neither Deputy Sheriff Melissa Myers nor Deputy Sheriff Hannah Peche were seriously hurt after getting hit, authorities said, adding that the suspect was not injured. Myers and fellow Deputy Sheriff Joshua Chaves opened fire, authorities added.

Holder will be charged with two counts of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, armed burglary, and resisting with violence, authorities said, adding that fraud charges also are expected.

What did Sheriff Grady Judd have to say?

Outspoken Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who never seems shy about letting his views be known, said "the suspect has a criminal history of fraud and violence, and that's exactly what was involved here today. Fraudulent activity is how this began, and she elevated it to violence by trying to kill two deputies with her car. Fortunately, she was quickly apprehended, and even more fortunate is that neither one of the deputies were seriously hurt."

Anything else?

Authorities said Holder's criminal history includes Polk County arrests in 2021 for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with and without violence.

In March 2022, she was arrested for battery (domestic violence), battery on officer/firefighter, and resisting without violence, authorities added. In September, Holder was arrested and charged with forgery, criminal use of personal ID, grand theft, false statements, false impersonation, fraud to obtain property, uttering a false Instrument, and unlawful use of communications device, authorities said.

Florida sheriff tells homeowners how to handle looters: 'Shoot him so he looks like grated cheese'



A Florida sheriff gave advice to homeowners on how to handle looters in the state: "Shoot him so he looks like grated cheese."

Hurricane Ian ravaged the west coast of Florida last week. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered an unflinching warning to criminals in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ian: "Don't even think about looting."

"The other thing we’re concerned about, particularly in those areas that were really hard hit, is we want to make sure we’re maintaining law and order," DeSantis explained. "Don’t even think about looting. Don’t even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation."

"I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home," DeSantis warned. "I would not want to chance that if I were you, given that we're a Second Amendment state."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Grady issued an even more imposing warning to criminals considering looting. During an appearance on "Fox & Friends," Grady commented on the cases of criminals being arrested for looting in the areas obliterated by the Category 4 hurricane.

"People have a right to be safe in their homes. They have a right to their property, to be safe even when part of their home maybe torn away," Judd said on Friday. “And these looters, that’s unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable."

Grady advised Florida homeowners, "I would highly suggest that if a looter breaks into your home, comes into your home while you’re there to steal stuff that you take your gun and you shoot him. You shoot him so he looks like grated cheese because you know what? That’s one looter that will not break into anyone else’s home and take advantage of them when they’re the most vulnerable and the most weak."

Grady said that law enforcement and the community are "all gonna come together" during catastrophes like hurricanes.

"The community is gonna come together, and if there are looters that think they’re gonna take care of these people, they may breaking it, but they should be carried out in a pine box because that is unacceptable, that cuts against all laws and all reality," he exclaimed. "You have a right, and your property has a right to be safe and secure in your home, what’s left of it."

\u201cPolk County Sheriff:\n\n"I would highly suggest that if a looter breaks into your home ... to steal stuff, that you take your gun and you shoot him \u2026 so that he looks like grated cheese."\u201d
— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1665170608

This isn't the first time the outspoken sheriff has issued a forceful warning to looters.

During the racial riots of the summer of 2020 sparked by the death of George Floyd, Sheriff Grady sternly warned criminals not to loot in the county east of Tampa.

"Let there be no misunderstanding, if you come here to riot, to loot, to injure people, we're going to lock you up in the county jail," Judd said in June 2020. "We are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct."

“I would tell them, if you value your life, they probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County. Because the people of Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded, and if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns. So, leave the community alone,” the sheriff said.

In December 2021, Grady praised a Florida resident who defended his house from a home invasion.

"The homeowner did exactly what he should have," Judd noted of the resident in Lakeland. "He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot. He gave him an early Christmas present. Only Santa Claus gets to come in your house — and Santa Claus is invited."

Florida sheriff debunks theory pushed by gun control advocates after Uvalde, warns active shooters what will happen to them



Florida Sheriff Grady Judd, the top cop in Polk County, pushed back on Tuesday against those who claim the Uvalde massacre proves more armed personnel on school grounds do not thwart active shooters.

What is the claim?

Proponents of gun control have seized on the Uvalde atrocity to advance their opposition to arming teachers and beefing up security personnel at schools.

In the case of Uvalde, the killer was inside the school for more than one hour before police killed him. The school had a resource officer (who was not present at the school when the killer first attacked), and dozens of law enforcement personnel stood outside the school while the gunman was inside on his killing rampage.

MSNBC columnist Zeeshan Aleem, for example, argued that because police officers failed to stop the killer before he murdered nearly two dozen people, teachers definitively could not have stopped him.

How could we expect a teacher — whose job it is to educate children, not protect them from highly motivated armed murderers — to handle the job more effectively in a moment of shocking chaos and terror? At best, supplying a teacher with a gun to confront a shooter is a mandate to have them sacrifice themselves while likely doing little to stop the attack; at worst, the teacher could accidentally harm or kill children, or even be mistaken for the shooter by responding officers.

What did Judd say?

Speaking on Fox News, Judd bashed the idea and MSNBC's advancement of the theory.

"MSNBC doesn’t know so much about what they’re talking about, but that’s not unusual. If they did, they could create the training program, and we’d never have another active shooter," Judd said.

"But at the end of the day, as simple as it may sound, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," he added. "There needs to be multiple people on that campus in advance, well trained, who are prepared to and can go in and stop the threat. And why those 19 police officers did [not do] that, I don't know."

Earlier in the interview, Judd made it clear how he trains his officers to deal with active shooters.

"At the end of the day we know that shootings, these active shooters, are done between zero and 5 minutes," he explained. "The police response is plus five minutes. We also know that active shooters don’t get to change it to a barricade situation.

"When you go in shooting, even though you pause, it doesn’t mean there aren’t injured children or people lying there. Once an active shooter, always an active shooter," he continued. "Push in, save lives, neutralize the threat. We train for that. We expect that.

"I can tell you this: I want them to shoot them, shoot them so much that you can read the local newspaper through them," Judd added bluntly. "Neutralize the threat."

The long-term solution to preventing mass killings at schools, Judd later said, is to "find people long before they show up on the campus." He said communities must work together and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

"If you see something, you hear something, you say something," he said.


Florida sheriff 'proud' of homeowner for defending himself after intruder breaks in: 'He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot'



There was no mistaking where Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stood in regard to guns and self-defense following a home invasion Wednesday afternoon in north Lakeland, Florida, which culminated in the homeowner shooting the intruder.

“The homeowner did exactly what he should have," Judd said, according to WFLA-TV. "He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot. He gave him an early Christmas present. Only Santa Claus gets to come in your house — and Santa Claus is invited.”

What are the details?

The homeowner told deputies the intruder threw a flower pot through glass French doors to get inside the home from the back porch — after which the homeowner shot the intruder three times, the station said.

Deputies said that upon their arrival, the homeowner handed them the gun and directed them to the intruder, who was lying on the living room floor, WESH-TV reported.

“I’m proud of our homeowner for defending himself," Judd added to WFLA. "It’s called a ‘Castle Doctrine.’ He has the right to protect himself and his home from unknown intruders."

'He's lucky to be alive'

Steven Stillwell, 42, was rushed to a hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, WFLA reported.

"He's lucky to be alive," Judd told WTVT-TV, adding that the break-in occurred around 1:00 p.m.

Image source: WFLA-TV video screenshot

What's more, deputies told WFLA that Stillwell was seen on surveillance video running into the back yard and standing on the porch, that evidence showed Stillwell was shot inside the home, and that someone had broken the glass to enter the residence.

In addition, investigators told WESH a shotgun belonging to Stillwell was found in the homeowner’s back yard.

The homeowner’s firearm was legal, deputies added to WFLA. The homeowner, who lives near Gibsonia-Galloway Road, does not know Stillwell, WESH reported.

'A person's home is his refuge'

The sheriff’s office considers the homeowner to be the victim in this case even though he shot the intruder; therefore, the homeowner's name is not being released, WFLA said.

"The castle doctrine is very clear in Florida law," Judd added to WESH. "A person's home is his refuge."

The homeowner’s attorney confirmed his client lives with his wife and young child but was home alone at the time of the shooting, WFLA added.

Charges are pending against Stillwell, WESH reported, adding that sheriff's office officials said he has an extensive criminal history that includes 14 felonies.

'I tell folks to get a gun'

Judd emphasized the importance of protecting yourself since police can't be everywhere at once.

"I tell folks to get a gun, learn how to use it safely, and load it," he told WESH. "You can dial 911 all day long, but when that guy's coming through the back door on you, we can't get there in time."