Rocky Allen Watson

Deadly force

Rocky Allen Watson who worked for FDOT had been acting strangely for four months ever since he started taking Vicodin for a work injury. He told his son that he saw spirits and thought rocks were gold nuggets. On Jan. 29, 2010, he allegedly shot a neighbor who was sitting in his car then told his son to grab a gun because he was at war. Watson fled into the woods. His son called police and the Highland County Sheriff's Special Response Team came to try to find Watson. He soon emerged from the woods and threatened cops with a Samurai sword saying, "Come get me," and, "Who wants to be the first to die?" When he threw his sword several deputies opened fire. Watson died at the scene.