A Florida woman’s violent confrontation with police, caught on newly released bodycam footage, reveals a tense encounter that ended in gunfire. On August 15, 2025, in Port St. Joe, 41-year-old Tikila Walker was shot by officers after charging at them with a 16-inch fillet knife following a string of hit-and-run incidents.
The Port St. Joe Police Department released the footage on September 2, 2025, shedding light on the chaotic moments that led to the first officer-involved shooting in the city since 1988. The incident began around 3:42 p.m. when police received reports of a white Ford Fusion, driven by Walker, fleeing a repossession attempt after a crash in North Port St. Joe. Sergeant Sherrell Morrison located the vehicle but chose not to pursue, prioritizing de-escalation.
By 4:19 p.m., officers responded to another hit-and-run involving Walker on Avenue C, where she again avoided serious consequences after the complainant declined to press charges. However, at 5:52 p.m., a third call came from a Sunstop convenience store in Highland View, reporting another hit-and-run and reckless driving by Walker, whose vehicle was blocked by a repo truck.
At 6:01 p.m., officers found Walker parked at 249 Avenue C, seated in her car and clutching a 16-inch fillet knife. Bodycam footage shows officers repeatedly ordering her to “put the knife down,” but Walker refused, locking herself inside. A Gulf County Sheriff’s Deputy joined the scene, broke the passenger-side window, and deployed a taser seven times, with no effect.
As Walker swung the knife toward the deputy, the situation escalated. Moments later, she exited the vehicle, raised the knife in an attack stance, and charged at Sergeant Morrison. Morrison fired two shots, and Officer Jerry Lee fired one, striking Walker in the upper right arm and pelvic area. The footage captures the intensity of the encounter, with Walker defiantly shouting, “I don’t give a damn!” as officers attempted to de-escalate.
After the shooting, Morrison responded to bystanders questioning her actions, saying,
“She came at me with a knife, what the hell did you expect me to do?”
Officers quickly disarmed Walker and provided medical aid until EMS arrived, transporting her to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in stable condition. She survived and was discharged on September 1, 2025.
On September 1, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Walker, who now faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. Additional charges related to the hit-and-run incidents may follow. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the Florida police shooting, with findings to be reviewed by State Attorney Larry Basford, who may convene a grand jury. After reviewing the footage, Chief Jake Richards stated the officers acted within policy, facing an immediate threat. Both Morrison, a 27-year veteran, and Lee, with nine years of experience, are on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Walker’s history includes prior violent encounters. In 2016, she faced charges for aggravated battery with a knife, and in 2020, she was arrested for battery on an officer and resisting arrest after a confrontation involving her son. These incidents raise questions about underlying factors, though no official reports confirm mental health or substance use in this case. The taser’s repeated failure also highlights challenges with non-lethal tools in high-stakes situations.
The release of the bodycam footage aims to provide transparency, but some witnesses at the scene questioned the necessity of lethal force, fueling local discussion about the Florida police shooting.
