George Floyd protests: Florida sheriff advises residents to shoot looters if they try to break into their homes
A Florida sheriff has encouraged residents in his area to shoot looters, if they attempt to break into their homes, amid the George Floyd protests.
During a press conference on Monday, Polk County sheriff Grady Judd criticised the minority of people who are stealing from businesses and residences during the nationwide peaceful protests, according to CBS News.
Mr Judd said that the Polk County Sheriff Department “had received information on social media that some folks were threatening to take their criminal conduct into the neighbourhoods,” this week.
“I would tell them, if you value your life, they probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County,” the sheriff said.
“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,” Mr Judd added.
The sheriff reiterated his stance in a Facebook post later on Monday, that expanded on his comments made at the press conference.
“Those who want to come in, stealthily, among those wonderful people who are simply making their position known, the ones that tried to infiltrate, we are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct,” he added.
On Tuesday, Mr Judd confirmed that there has been “zero incidents of protest-related violence,” in Polk County, since the protests started, but added in an interview with Dana Loesch that he would be prepared to follow his advice, and shoot a looter.
He said: “If someone breaks into my home, I’m going to shoot them and I’m going to shoot them a lot.”
Mr Judd’s remarks are similar to comments made by president Donald Trump last week, who wrote “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” on his Twitter account.
The president’s comments were widely criticised and Twitter flagged his post for “glorifying violence,” but did not remove it from the social media site.
Twitter’s explanation read: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
Protests have taken place across the US, following the death of George Floyd, who died after being detained by Derek Chauvin, who at the time was a Minneapolis police officer.
The protests, in opposition of police brutality against African Americans, started in Minneapolis, but quickly spread to Chicago and New York, among cities in every state in the US.
Police have clashed with protesters all over the US, and some officers have been filmed using excessive force, while a minority of civilians have engaged in looting.
Despite his strong advice in regards to looters, the sheriff confirmed that he supports peaceful protests and condemns the actions of Mr Chauvin.
“The death of George in Minneapolis at the hands of that police officer was outrageous,” he said. “Had that police officer done here what he did there, he would have been locked up in the county jail by sundown.”
