The crazed killer turned his gun on his pregnant wife and then police, authorities say. Now two cops are dead — and a desperate statewide manhunt is underway in Florida to find the suspect before he can strike again.
According to reports, an Orlando police sergeant was shot and killed Monday after approaching a suspect wanted for questioning in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend.
A second law enforcement officer was killed in a motorcycle crash while responding to a massive manhunt for the suspect.
More than a dozen schools were placed in lockdown during the manhunt, and authorities were offering a $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Markeith Loyd, the 41-year-old suspect wanted in the killing of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
Officers and deputies focused their manhunt on an apartment complex in northwest Orlando, and dozens of residences had been searched. Residents who were evacuated from their homes sat on a sidewalk along a street with heavily armed officers and deputies and a parked SWAT team truck.
Clayton, 42, was killed outside a Wal-Mart store in northwest Orlando early Monday, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Norman Lewis was killed in a crash while responding to a manhunt for Loyd.
Another Orlando police officer was involved in a crash while responding to the shooting but had only minor injuries.
Authorities said Loyd previously was a suspect in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend in December.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous,” Police Chief John Mina said at a morning press conference. Later in the day, the chief said, “It doesn’t matter where he is. We will track him down to the ends of the Earth.”
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said deputies had been searching unsuccessfully for Loyd for several weeks and believe he was receiving help from someone.
At an afternoon news conference, Demings urged Loyd to turn himself in peacefully.
“If we have to go in after him, then that jeopardizes and puts at risk the safety of law enforcement officers … and we cannot control what happens in that situation,” Demings said.
Mina lauded Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the force as a “committed” officer and “a hero” who gave her life to the community she loves. The Orlando Police Department said in a tweet that Clayton always had a smile and a high five for every child she came across.
Clayton had grown up in the Orlando area and was active in programs that mentored young people, Mina said.
“She was always the first to step up and help kids,” the chief said.
Clayton was a supervisor for a patrol division in the neighborhood where she was shot, and she previously had worked in investigations and as a school resource officer, Deputy Chief Orlando Rolon said.
“She made a point, even outside her working hours, to do things for youth and do things for the community,” Rolon said.
She was married and had a college-aged son. She died Monday at 7:40 a.m., less than an hour after she was shot while on duty.
Police released a video of Clayton’s body being taken out of the hospital to a waiting van in a flag-covered stretcher. A line of officers saluted as the stretcher was wheeled out.
Authorities said 17 area schools were placed in lockdown after the shooting.
The apartment complex that was the focus of the manhunt and shooting in northwest Orlando was nowhere near Orlando’s tourism corridor in the southern part of the metro area.
“There will be a large law enforcement presence in that area until we can determine he is not there,” Mina said.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a day of mourning in the city.
While at the Wal-Mart Monday morning, Clayton was tipped off by someone that Loyd was in the area. When she approached him, he fired multiple shots at Clayton, who was wearing body armor, Mina said.
Clayton returned fire but didn’t hit him, he said.
Sheriff’s officials said a deputy spotted Loyd fleeing in a vehicle. The suspect pulled into a nearby apartment complex and then fired at a deputy, striking the deputy’s SUV twice. The deputy wasn’t harmed, the sheriff’s office said.
Loyd then carjacked another vehicle, drove away and then abandoned the vehicle not far away, according to the sheriff’s office.
The manhunt was being conducted where he abandoned the vehicle.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy was killed more than two hours after the shooting when a van collided with his motorcycle as he responded to the manhunt. Demings described the 35-year-old Lewis as “a gentle giant,” and the sheriff’s office said he had played football for the University of Central Florida before joining the agency 11 years ago.
Gov. Rick Scott canceled an appearance in Orlando because of the shooting but appeared with Orlando officials at the news conference.
“I’m heartbroken and angry,” Scott said.
Can you believe some one on a religious website asked me about “what about Forgiveness ” Can you believe this ? God never said forgive and set free the criminals
Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give unto God what is God’s”. In this case, you can forgive all you want. But we have a DUTY to protect life. “Caesar” says this animal has to be PUNISHED for his crime. (Let God deal with the ‘sin’) In my opinion, when caught, he should be handcuffed to a light pole in the town square and CANED. He has earned it. Then, if he is still alive, he should be thrown bleeding into a pond with twelve-foot alligators and an electrified fence around it. He can repent as he is being consumed.
SH, I like the way you think. However, no repercussions against the gator.
At some point in time its time to stop feeding the gator, and turn it into something useful. Plant food.
Silent Hammer, do you believe in the Constitution, particularly the 8th Amendment in the Bill of Rights?
A fair and speedy trial and then execution by firing squad, hanging, electric chair, or lethal injection would be appropriate.
In the 8th Amendment to the Constitution it states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, NOR CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT INFLICTED” (my emphasis).
In Romans 13:4 it states, “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
I’m always dismayed by how many say they believe in the Constitution and/or the Bible but want vigilante justice coupled with torture.
I hope the sonofabitch comes my way as I could use the money and would not hesitate to kill the bastard, one bullet threw the head on site. problem over with. I can still hit coins in flight so would not miss a target as big as his head with rifle or pistol doesn’t matter which.
You are full of it.
Motorcycle cop driving like an idiot to get to the scene so he could stand around all day doing nothing just like the rest of them.
You COULD move to the Middle East, where cops are not available to help citizens at all.
What an experience that would be for you!
Maybe the person will check into a motel and commit suicide by hanging himself in a showerstall. Statistics prove true for some.
No it was some idiot who did not pay attention to his siren and lights. What a stupid statement you just made, You must be a follower of Obama and hate the police logic, I just hope if and when you need a cop that they are just there a little too late because they had to drive slow due to idiot drivers…..
What siren and lights?
Were you there?
SH, maybe that gator has a mate for Andy, lol. Can’t fix stupid soooo…
Donald Trump will tell you about Martial Law and it’s protocol.
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JERK!
That is not nice.
You Re the idiot if hell open fire on a police officer what do youthink he do to you and your family standy around like you seem to think mran keep2 the suspect in an area whete you have a better chance of finfing him the more eyes watching increases the odds but you dont care can tell no respect for Police
Sober up.
So, you were an eyewitness? Why is your testimony or comment included in the article. And yes, leave the country while you can. I’ m sure there are many of us that will assist your move to a better place.
Andy, do you celebrate the fact that two police officers were killed?
A total disregard for others including family as well as the Police – no quarter should be given he should be gunned down on sight to save We the People the cost of a trial, in-prisionment and appeals.
John, so we have another “super patriot” who doesn’t believe in the Constitution or the rule of law but purports to speak in the name of We the People.
Capture him, give him a fair and speedy trial, one automatic appeal, and then execute him, all within a year. Or is that too “unpatriotic” for you?
Hopefully he won’t be caught until the Muslim & Black Criminal-Pardoner-in-Chief is gone.
Shame on you.
Andy Buckmichael – no, shame on you “NumbNuts”
I hope he resists arrest and goes down in a hail of bullets.
Hopefully Mr. Loyd will soon be arrested. Hopefully a jury will send his sorry carcass to death row.
Critics might be right-the death penalty may not serve as a deterrent. But once it is carried out we never have to worry about that person threatening society again.
This shooting is a good reminder of the appreciation we owe police officers. They put their lives on the line every day to protect us. Master Sgt. Debra Clayton is a true American hero. Thank you Ms. Clayton!
Justin, finally a logical, cogent, moral, and wise post. You’ve shown what a true patriot believes. Thanks.
A role model thanks to Washington D.C.?
Andy Buckmichael another Monday quarter back. Hopefully nothing ever happens to your family that you need Police help. You on the other hand I hope you get what comes to you. Have a good day everyone. Be safe and say Hello it might catch on.
Why the hell didn’t she call for backup before confronting him if he was a murder suspect? That’s the first thing I would have done.
You watch WAY too many cop shows. Do you know for a fact she didn’t call for back-up? What would your comment be if the officer had done nothing until someone else arrived. How many criminals have you pursued? ANY—at all–ever?
Andy, Bucklehead. Smartazz aren’t you? Smartazz and nothing more. Police doing the job and lose their lives in the process. This is humorous to you, isn’t it? JERK!
Bucklehead?
James Hutchins – no, just another Bleeding Heart Liberal” dunderhead.
this is disgusting. we all EARN our reputations and it has nothing to do with racism. thanks BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA for dividing our nation and feeding the ‘racism nightmare’. i can’t even describe what i want to really say …
Obama is responsible for this he’s the one who inside of the violence against the cops, as he wants what his masters want the NWO And a federal police force no state federal or local. If we want this federal overreach to stop you got to go after Obama and Loretta Lynch there the perpetrators of this whole mess along with let’s not let Eric Holder the slimeball that he is off the hook
He’ll be caught, he’ll be dealt with, you can run but you can’t hide forever. He will not have his sentence commuted by Trump.
Obama will pardon him I’m afraid–if they catch him.