Deputy Litz, 36, was shot and killed February 7, 2004 at approximately 1300 hours while making a routine well-being check on an elderly man, Ivan K. Gotham, 74, who lived alone in a retirement community at 9030 S.W. 104th Place in Pine Run, Ocala, Florida. The man’s youngest son, Gary Gotham called from his Virginia home to report that he hadn’t been able to reach his father for two days and called the Sheriff’s Office asking the department to check on his father. He advised that his father had a gun also. When Deputy Litz approached the house to check on Gotham, he observed Gothan in the house but he would not respond to him. Deputy Litz moved to the front of the residence to look through a window, in an attempt to get a better observation of Gotham. Deputy Litz walked up to the man’s front window. As Deputy Litz approached, the suspect opened fire, killing Deputy Litz instantly. Deputy Litz was struck just above his bulletproof vest. Gotham kept other deputies at bay until two SWAT officers arrived and recovered Deputy Litz’s body. Gotham was killed when he grabbed a shotgun a Deputy was holding on him from a kitchen window. Litz was pronounced dead at Munroe Regional Medial Center. Litz’s K-9 partner, Justice, accompanied his master’s body into the church, occasionally howling softly as the bagpipes played. Justice remained in the church throughout the service. Two years ago, Litz, along with K-9 Justice, had received their National K-9 Bomb Certification which certified them as experts in detecting explosives. Deputy Litz had served with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for 7 years and was a member of the K9 unit. More than 3,000 attended Deputy Litz’s funeral procession. He is survived by his wife Cherie and 5-year-old son Brian. K-9 Justice was retired and lives with Deputy Litz’s wife and son.
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