Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Walton County on Saturday to honor Deputy William May, who was killed in the line of duty last week.
- The governor issued the directive Thursday in a memorandum to state and local officials, calling for U.S. and Florida flags to be lowered from sunrise to sunset on April 12.
“Deputy May was tragically killed in the line of duty when responding to a disturbance in DeFuniak Springs,” DeSantis wrote in the memorandum. “Deputy May was shot multiple times but neutralized a violent assailant.”
May, who served with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for over eleven years, died on April 2 after responding to a disturbance call at a Dollar General store in Mossy Head. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and neutralize the suspect.
Sheriff Michael Adkinson previously stated that May had volunteered for overtime that day and was responding to his final call of the shift when the shooting occurred.
- “He displayed courage, bravery, and unwavering dedication to protecting his community,” the governor’s memorandum stated.
May began his career with the sheriff’s office in 2014 as a communications officer before becoming a deputy in 2019. He had served as a field training officer since 2023 and came from a family dedicated to public service — his father is a retired assistant fire chief and his mother is a former dispatcher.
The deputy leaves behind his wife and two teenage children.
