Gunman kills cop, second officer dies during hunt
ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando police sergeant was shot and killed yesterday 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, who was still at large last night.
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-yearold 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 yesterday, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy 1st 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 exgirlfriend 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.
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. An Orlando police tweet said Clayton always had a smile and a high five for every child she met.