Wayne J. Koester was a 33-year-old deputy who was ambushed and fatally shot on February 9, 2005, in Lake County, Florida, while responding to a domestic violence call in the Ocala National Forest. Deputies had made contact with the female subject at a neighbor’s home and were attempting to return her to her residence when the suspect, Jason Wheeler, opened fire from the woods with a shotgun. Koester was struck five times by birdshot and buckshot pellets and later died at a hospital in Tavares. Two other deputies were also wounded in the attack.

Wheeler fled on a motorcycle but was captured later that day after a large manhunt and a second shootout; he was shot and left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. He was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, and two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. His initial death sentence was later commuted to life without parole after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about jury unanimity in death-penalty recommendations.

Koester is remembered as a dedicated officer, husband to his wife Ashley, and father of four. The family and community were deeply affected by his death.