Suspect in killings of 2 officers arrested at bar in Florida

Marine veteran faces charges of first-degree murder.

A police KISSIMMEE, FLA. — officer in Florida died from his injuries Saturday, a day after his colleague was killed when a suspect fired at them during a scuffle while they were on patrol.

The suspect was later arrested at a bar.

Sgt. Sam Howard died at a hospital where he had been taken following Friday night’s attack in Kissimmee, south of the theme park hub of Orlando.

Authorities said Officer Matthew Baxter died Friday night, a short time after he was shot by 45-year-old Everett Miller.

Miller faces a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of Baxter. Authorities had not yet said what charges he could face in Howard’s death.

The officers were shot as Baxter was “checking out” three people, including Miller, during a patrol of a neighborhood with a history of drug activity, said Kissim- mee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell.

Howard, Baxter’s sergeant, responded as his backup, and a scuffle with Miller began, O’Dell said. He said Miller opened fire and the officers didn’t have an opportunity to shoot back.

Sheriff ’s deputies with a neighboring law enforce- ment agency later tracked Miller down to a bar and approached him. Miller started reaching toward his waistband and the deputies tackled and subdued him, O’Dell said.

They found a handgun and revolver on him.

“They were extremely brave and heroic actions taken by the deputies,” O’Dell said. He said Miller was taken to jail wearing Baxter’s handcuffs.

Authorities originally said they believed there were four suspects, but the chief said Saturday that no other arrests are anticipated.

Miller, 45, was a Marine veteran and was recently involuntarily committed for a mental evaluation by the Osceola County, Fla., Sheriff ’s Office. The early stages of the investigation show that Miller had made threats to law enforcement on Facebook, O’Dell said.

Baxter, 27, had been with the Kissimmee Police Department for three years. He was married to another Kissimmee police officer and they had four children. Howard, 36, had served with the Kissimmee Police Department for 10 years. He and his wife had one child, O’Dell said.

“They are two wonderful men, family men,” O’Dell said. “They are two committed to doing it the right way.”

President Trump tweeted ear l y Sat urd ay tha t his thoughts and prayers were with the Kissimmee Police Department. “We are with you!” he said.

The officers were shot in a district where the top prosecutor has said she will no longer seek the death penalty. State Attorney Aramis Ayala said it’s not a deterrent and that the appeals drag on for years, adding to the grief of the victims’ relatives. The announcement came as her office was building a case against Markeith Loyd, who is charged with the fatal shooting of an Orlando police lieutenant.

‘They were extremely brave and heroic actions taken by the deputies.’ Jeff O’Dell Kissimmee police chief