DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL — A tragic shootout outside a Dollar General store on Wednesday afternoon has left Walton County Deputy William May dead, along with the man authorities say was responsible for the fatal gunfire.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that 58-year-old Timothy Mark Jarvinen was the man who shot and killed Deputy May. According to an official incident report, the confrontation occurred after deputies were called to the store on Highway 90 for a disturbance involving Jarvinen, who had arrived at the location on a bicycle from his nearby residence on Shakespeare Court.
Deputy May responded to the scene and attempted to escort Jarvinen out of the store. During that process, Jarvinen pulled a firearm and opened fire. Deputy May returned fire, resulting in both men being shot. Jarvinen was pronounced dead at the scene, and Deputy May died shortly after from his injuries.
Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson Jr. held a press conference Wednesday night, sharing that Jarvinen had no known criminal record or history of violent behavior. He was a legal gun owner with a concealed carry permit, and investigators found additional firearms at his residence. However, none of those weapons were linked to previous crimes.
“He had other weapons in his residence when we searched it,” Sheriff Adkinson said. “But nothing to indicate violence. In fact, he had not been arrested by this organization.”
Public records confirm that Jarvinen had no criminal charges in Walton County or the broader Northwest Florida region. His only previous court cases were civil matters from 2017 and 2018, both related to finances.
Jarvinen had reportedly lived in the community for several years. While law enforcement had interacted with him in the past, those contacts were described as limited to welfare checks and other non-criminal concerns.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal shooting. More details are expected in the coming days, including funeral arrangements for Deputy May and an official timeline of events.
The death of Deputy May has shaken the local law enforcement community and prompted tributes from around the state. Sheriff Adkinson and other officials have asked the public to keep Deputy May’s family and colleagues in their thoughts as they navigate this devastating loss.
