Markeith Loyd Escalates In First Court Appearance

Markeith Loyd Appears In Court Yelling Profanities

On Thursday morning murder suspect, Markeith Loyd, appeared in court for the first time and things escalated quickly.

Loyd is accused of killing an Orlando police officer and is the murder suspect in the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, who was shot to death.

In the courtroom Loyd told the judge he plans to represent himself and yelled “F- – – you!” as he left the room.

Loyd remained combative and cursed while offering his defense to the crime he is being accused of.

During the whole hearing the judge attempted to stop Loyd from talking and reminded him that everything he was said was being recorded.

The 41-year-old defendant said he understood and continued to curse and claimed police were “making up” everything that happened the night his ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, was shot and that he had been defending himself.

The judge also asked if Loyd understood the punishment he was facing and he responded, “it don’t matter.”

Loyd appeared in court wearing a protective green vest and handcuffs that wrapped around his waist. The judge ordered he remain in the Orange County Jail without bond.

He also had white gauze covering his left eye and a bandage wrapped around his head.

During the hearing two corrections officers stood on either side of him to hold his arms.

Thursday’s hearing was the first time Loyd has made an appearance since he arrest Tuesday night following a nine-day manhunt.

Photo: Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel

He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he spent a night before leaving the hospital in a wheelchair Wednesday evening to be taken to jail.

He was booked on charges related to the death of Dixon, including first degree murder. Dixon was shot to death  outside her family’s home on Dec. 13 and her brother was also seriously injured.

Loyd has not been charged with the killing of Lt. Debra Clayton yet. Clayton’s death sparked the manhunt and included hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement officers.

Photo: Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel

On Jan. 9 Clayton was shot as she was approaching Loyd outside of a Wal-Mart on Princeton Street.

Late Wednesday, Orlando police Chief John Mina revealed new details in the case.

During a TV interview he said he was able to watch surveillance footage of the incident outside Wal-Mart.

Video shows Clayton trying to get cover as she exchanged gunfire with Loyd. Mina then told HLN’s Ashleigh Banfield that Clayton was hit once and fell to the ground with a non-life threatening injury.

But instead of fleeing, Loyd went to Clayton and stood over her as she bled and shot her multiple times “execution style,” Mina said to Banfield.

Orlando police is now working closely with the State Attorney’s Office to make sure their case is “rock solid” before filing charges against Loyd in Clayton’s death, said Mina, per the Orlando Sentinel.

On Tuesday night Loyd was captured in an abandoned home in a west Orlando neighborhood, Carver Shores, the same neighborhood Clayton’s family lives in.

Photo: Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel

Police said Loyd resisted while they tried to arrest him, which caused them to use force leaving his face bloodied and swollen.

One law enforcement official, who did not want to be identified, told the Orlando Sentinel that Loyd had undergone at least one surgery and that an injury could leave him blind in his left eye.

Orange County Deputy Norman Lewis also died in a traffic accident while pursuing Loyd on Jan. 9 during the manhunt.