Orlando Police Officer Shot Multiple Times
A manhunt is underway for a man accused of shooting an Orlando police officer multiple times on Monday.
Market Loyd, 41, is wanted in connection with the slaying of his pregnant ex-girlfriend and injuring her 26-year-old brother. He was last seen fleeing in a vehicle from the Walmart near Princeton Avenue near John Young Parkway, where the officer was shot, said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The department confirmed the death of Sergeant Debra Clayton just after 10 a.m. Sgt. Clayton had been with the Police Department since 1999. The Orlando Sentinel reported that live television from Orlando Regional Medical Center showed a flag-covered coffin being loaded into a van while more than a dozen OPD officers stood at attention.
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
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill posted on Facebook, “Oh God!!!! Please pray for my OPD Liaison, she’s been shot down in Pinehills.”
Just before 9:30 a.m. the Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported that Loyd was being sought. The Sheriff’s Office reported that Loyd fired at a deputy, but missed, near North Lane and Pine Hills Drive when he spotted the deputy. The gunfire hit the deputy’s SUV.
Then Loyd carjacked a vehicle and fled. He abandoned the vehicle near Rosemont and Cinderlane Parkway where deputies concentrated their search.
More information has not been available about how the Orlando police officer was wounded. The department is to hold a news conference at 10:45 a.m. at ORMC.
Orlando Fire Department spokeswoman Ashley Papagni said an ambulance was transporting one person to ORMC, but no other details were confirmed.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office there were seven officers and deputies excorting the ambulance to the hospital.
Deputies received a call to the scene just after 7:15 a.m. after hearing an “officer needs help,” said the Sentinel.
There are several schools on lockdown at this time:
- Evans High
- Meadowbrook Middle
- Lockhart Middle
- Pine Hills Elementary
- Rolling Hills Elementary
- Robinswood Middle
- Pinewood Elementary
- Lockhart Elementary
- Innovations
- Kids Community College
- Lucious & Emma Nixon Academy
- Nap Ford Community School
- Oasis
- Orlando Science Charter School
- UCP Pine Hills
