Fallen Hero

Deputy Wayne Koester
Lake County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Biographical Info

Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 9 months
Badge Number: 1426

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and wounded    

Deputy Koester and two other deputies were shot while responding to a domestic violence call at a home in Ocala National Forest.

The three deputies had made contact with the female subject at a neighbor's home. The deputies searched for the male subject at the couple's home but did not located him. As they returned the female subject to the home, the suspect ambushed them from the woods with a shotgun loaded with slugs. He exchanged shots with the deputies, wounding all three. Deputy Koester was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle, but was apprehended later in the day following a massive manhunt and a second shootout. When the suspect was apprehended, it was discovered that he suffered gunshot wounds from one of the shootouts.

Deputy Koester had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office for only 9 months. He is survived by his wife and four children.