A suspect man who was wanted for murdering his ex-girlfriend had fatally shot an Orlando, Florida, police officer on Monday, police authorities said, prompting a manhunt and a reward of up to $60,000.
Helicopters covered from the skies, while the police officers went door to door in their search for the suspect, who is identified as Markeith Loyd, 41 years old. He was considered carrying a weapon and dangerous.
An Orange County sheriff's deputy officer was killed in the manhunt for Markeith Loyd, when a motorbike of officer collided with a van, police said. The driver of the van was a 78-year-old man, according to local media reports.
"We will bring this dirt bag to justice," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said of Markeith Loyd at a press conference, adding that federal agents had joined the search.
"We will track him down to the ends of the earth," he told later in the press conference.
Police authorities said the officer, Master Sergeant Debra Clayton, was shot while she was responding to a sighting of the suspect at a local Walmart.
When Loyd encountered with Sergeant Clayton he immediately fired at her and she returned fire at Loyd, Mina said, adding that he did not believe Loyd was hit.
Loyd fled from the shooting incident outside the store in a car and shot at a deputy who tried to the stop him, authorities said. The deputy was safe and unharmed.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a day of mourning after the death of two police officers.
Police authorities have been trying to arrest Markeith Loyd in connection with the murder in December 2016 of a pregnant woman, who was once Loyd’s girlfriend, the Orange County Sheriff's office said.
Sergeant Debra Clayton was a decorated 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, died at a hospital after she was shot in the shootout, the department said. Photos posted on social media showed her at community events, working to improve relations between police and residents.
The Orlando Police Department tweeted” The Orlando Police Department family is heartbroken today," and showed a video of officers escorting the US flag draped gurney.
Local media reported that officer Clayton was one of the first to respond to the Pulse gay nightclub shooting at Orlando in 2016 June, which is the deadliest shooting rampage in modern American history, where a gunman killed 49 people.
Deputy First Class Norman Lewis was an 11-year-veteran and was killed during the manhunt for Loyd, the Orange County Sheriff's office said. Lewis was 35 years old, and he once played football for the University of Central Florida.
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