UPDATE: At a 3:30 p.m. (EST) press conference, Orlando Police Chief John Mina briefed reporters on the manhunt for suspected cop killer Markeith Loyd.
“Hundreds of officers and deputies are in the area” Working with FBI, ATF, etc., Mina said. “The effort to capture him is a 24 hour operation. We will not stop.”
“We will find him soon,” Mina added. “I am confident we will find him” “We will track him down to the ends of the earth. I can promise you that.”
Earlier:
Witnesses are reporting that the suspect was wearing some type of security uniform and that he shot a female officer up to nine times, killing her.
“(The shooter) 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.”
WFTV 9 is reporting that the suspect has been identified as Markeith Loyd, who is also wanted for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend. He has been on the run since her killing on December 13th.
In a related tragedy, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was searching for Loyd was struck on his motorcycle by an SUV and has died.
Earlier:
ORLANOD, Fla. (AP) — An Orlando, Florida, police officer has been taken to the hospital following a shooting as authorities searched for a suspect.
According to the police department’s official Twitter page, the shooting happened just after 7:15 a.m. Monday not far from a Walmart. A massive manhunt for the suspect is underway.
No additional details were provided about the shooting.
The Orlando Police Department family is heartbroken today. One of our own was taken in the line of duty. There are no words. pic.twitter.com/M48o1nnr4h
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 9, 2017
The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2i8wHZ6 ) reports at least seven Orlando police officers and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were seen escorting an ambulance carrying the officer to the hospital shortly after the shooting.
Traffic has been detoured around the area.
No further details were immediately available.
Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
