Manhunt underway in Orlando cop killing
Deputy also dies in crash during chase
Orlando, Fla. — An Orlando police sergeant was shot and killed Monday after approaching a suspect wanted for questioning in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, and 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 Walmart store in northwest Orlando early Monday, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy 1st Class Norman Lewis was killed in a crash while responding to a manhunt for Loyd.
Authorities said Loyd previously was a suspect in the murder of his pregnant exgirlfriend in December.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous,” Police Chief John Mina said at a morning news conference. Later, 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.
Mina lauded Clayton, a 17year veteran of the force, as a “committed” officer and “a hero” who gave her life to the community she loves.
Clayton grew 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.
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.
While at the Walmart 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 35year-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.