Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Two police officers slain in Florida
Authorities say scuffle led to gunfire; suspect, 45, in custody
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A police officer in Florida died from his injuries Saturday, a day after his colleague was killed when a gunman fired at them during a scuffle while they were on patrol. A suspect was later arrested at a bar.
Sgt. Sam Howard died Saturday afternoon at a hospital where he had been taken after Friday night’s attack in Kissimmee, Fla., which is south of the theme park hub of Orlando.
Officer Matthew Baxter died Friday night a short time after the shooting.
Everett Miller, 45, faces a charge of first-degree murder in Baxter’s death. Authorities hadn’t yet said what charges he could face in Howard’s death.
During a patrol late Friday of a neighborhood known for drug activity, Baxter was “checking out” three people, including Miller, when the officer got into a scuffle with Miller, authorities said. Howard, his sergeant, responded as backup, said Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell.
The officers didn’t have an opportunity to return fire, police said. They weren’t wearing body cameras.
Sheriff’s deputies with a neighboring law enforcement agency later tracked Miller down to a bar and approached him. Miller reached toward his waistband when 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.
The police chief 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 is a Marine veteran and was recently involuntarily committed for a mental evaluation by the Osceola County sheriff’s office. The early stages of the investigation show that Miller had made threats on Facebook to law enforcement officials , 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 have four children.
Howard, 36, has served with the Kissimmee Police Department for 10 years. He and his wife have 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.”
Separately, two other officers were injured late Friday in Jacksonville, Fla., after police responded to reports of an attempted suicide at a home where the mother of the man’s child, their 19-month-old toddler, the woman’s mother and a family friend were thought to be in danger. One of the officers was shot in both hands and the other was shot in the stomach.
Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said Saturday that officers Michael Fox and Kevin Jarrell are in stable condition after Friday night’s confrontation with an armed Derrick Brabham, who was killed by the officers.
In a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., a suspect was fatally shot and an officer injured after they got into a struggle.
President Donald Trump tweeted early Saturday that his thoughts and prayers were with the Kissimmee Police Department. “We are with you!” he said.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott tweeted he was “heartbroken” by the attacks on the officers.
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said Saturday that he will ask for American flags to be flown over the U.S. Capitol and he plans to ask for a moment of silence on the floor of the U.S. House to honor the officers.
The officers were fatally shot in a district where the top prosecutor says she will no longer seek the death penalty. State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek the death penalty, explaining it’s not a deterrent and it drags on for years for 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.
A spokesman for Ayala didn’t respond to an email inquiry seeking comment.