LAKELAND, FL — Larry Riles, 46, an alleged Uber driver, was shot by Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies Monday morning after Sheriff Grady Judd said Riles reached into the back seat of his vehicle, grabbed a handgun, and attempted to chamber a round while deputies were trying to arrest him on an outstanding probation violation warrant.
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, deputies were alerted just before 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, by a Flock Safety camera that detected Riles in the area. Riles was wanted on an outstanding warrant for violating probation after allegedly failing to comply with a required drug test.
Deputies located Riles’ dark blue Chevrolet SUV in the plaza at George Jenkins Boulevard and Wabash Avenue. Riles backed into a parking space in front of a Subway after apparently noticing law enforcement. Sheriff Grady Judd said the SUV displayed an Uber sign.
Three deputies positioned their patrol vehicles to block the SUV and repeatedly ordered Riles to exit, but he refused. Sheriff Judd said Riles then attempted to drive forward. Deputies broke a window and deployed a Taser, but it was ineffective. Riles continued resisting, rammed a patrol vehicle, then reached into the back seat, grabbed a semi-automatic 9mm handgun, and began racking a round into the chamber.
At that point, three of the four deputies on scene opened fire, striking Riles multiple times. “We shot him a lot,” Judd said during Monday’s press conference. Deputies secured Riles and immediately provided lifesaving medical aid before he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The suspect’s handgun had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Lakeland on June 24.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Riles’ criminal history includes three previous felony charges. He was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. On Oct. 27, 2025, he was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for grand theft, and on March 20, 2026, he was arrested for violating probation after failing a court-mandated drug test. He was released from jail on April 14, 2026. At the time of Monday’s incident, Riles was on probation and had an active warrant.
Under Florida law, the identities of the deputies involved will not be released for at least 72 hours. Judd concluded the press conference by praising the Flock Safety camera system, saying the technology played a key role in locating Riles. Nothing further at this time.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S PRESS CONFERENCE
Editor’s Note: According to Sheriff Grady Judd, Riles’ family told detectives he worked as an Uber driver. Judd also said deputies observed an Uber sign displayed on Riles’ vehicle during the incident.
