Orlando police shooting gunman arrested after ‘killing cop while on run for murdering his pregnant girlfriend’
The suspect was arrested using Lt. Debra Clayton's handcuffs
THE suspect in the fatal shooting of an Orlando cop was captured - and placed in the handcuffs belonging the dead officer - after a siege that ended a massive week-long manhunt, authorities said.
Markeith Loyd, 41, was flushed out of an abandoned house and pictured being taken into custody in bloodied bandages last night. The arrest ended a search that began with the January 9 killing of Lt. Debra Clayton outside a Wal-Mart store, Orlando police Chief John Mina said.
Local television stations showed Loyd with a bloodied face and his eyes covered with a bandage as officers and deputies took him into police headquarters.
Mina tweeted, "Captured and wearing Lt. Debra Clayton's handcuffs."
Loyd was wearing body armor and carrying two handguns, one equipped with a 100-round magazine, when he surrendered after a SWAT team surrounded the house in western Orlando, Mina said at a news conference. He said Loyd resisted arrest and had some facial injuries that were being treated.
Sgt. Clayton - who was wearing body armour - was shot 'multiple times' and died soon after. She returned fire but didn't hit him.
Desperate Loyd - wanted over the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Sade Dixon - fled the scene of the earlier shooting, hijacking a car, and firing at least two shots at a pursuing police vehicle.
He then abandoned the first car and stole another, according to police.
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Mina denied rumors that the arrest was the result of an anonymous tip, saying that Loyd was captured by the tireless efforts of law enforcement.
"They've basically been living in their vehicles, using the bathroom in their vehicles, to try and do everything they could to bring justice for the Dixon family and for the Clayton family," Mina said.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at the news conference that the arrest is bittersweet, noting that in addition to Clayton, a deputy in his agency, Norman Lewis, died in a traffic crash during the manhunt for Loyd.
"I believe that our entire community is going to breathe a sigh of relief at this point," Demings said. "They will sleep better knowing tonight that... this maniac is off the streets."
Demings said Loyd would be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Dixon's death last month. Loyd will also face one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm related to the shooting of Dixon's brother and threats against other relatives.
WERE THERE ACCOMPLICES?
Police arrested a former supervisor at the fried chicken restaurant where Loyd worked, an ex-girlfriend and a niece last Tuesday and Wednesday on charges of helping him in the weeks after Loyd's ex-girlfriend was fatally shot.
Mina said he expects more arrests in the case for anyone who helped him evade police. He said authorities didn't know how long Loyd been in the house, which was abandoned but does have ties to associates of his.
"Anyone who harbored, aided or abetted him in any way is going to be arrested, and we know from our investigation that people did assist him," Mina said.
Those at the scene of the fatal shooting told how the drama unfolded.
"He was an average-looking dude, he walked by me, had a security vest and everything," witness James Herman told Channel 9.
"I was walking down the sidewalk, right past the officer, and I heard her tell him to stop, or whatever, and he shot her. He shot her down. He took off running. It's unreal."
Herman said the man continued to shoot behind him as he was running from the scene.
"As he was running, he was shooting back, he was shooting backwards," Herman said.
"I hit the ground on the side over here because I wasn't sure where the shooting was coming from at first.”
Sgt. Clayton had been shopping and was putting bags into the trunk of her vehicle when she was approached by another shopper, Herman said.
"The customer walked up to her and said that someone they were looking for, wanted, was in the store in the line to check out," he said.
"She went in there, I guess, to confront him. As she was going back to Walmart, he was coming out, and he shot her."
During the manhunt, an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy was also tragically killed in a motorcycle accident.
The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the deputy, named as Norman Lewis, was involved in the hunt at the time of the crash.
Clermont, Florida resident Billie Jarrard allegedly “turned into the direct path” of the officer.
The Florida Highway Patrol said in a statement that charges are pending against Jarrard.
Another police officer also was involved in a crash while responding to the shooting but only had minor injuries.
Chief Mina said during a Monday morning press conference that Clayton, a 17-year veteran, was well-known on the force.
“She organised several marches against violence by herself. That’s how dedicated she was,” Mina said.
Loyd previously spent four years in prison for battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.
He was sentenced to 27 months in prison in 2011 for possessing homemade weapons while in federal custody.
He was also charged in a 1995 murder case, but those charges were dropped.
As hundreds of officers from multiple departments continue the manhunt, more than a dozen local schools were placed on lockdown.