Cop Killer and Fugitive Markeith Loyd Captured After a Two-Week Long Manhunt

Markeith Loys had been wanted in connection with his pregnant girlfriend’s murder in December last year. On January 9^th, Sgt. Debra Clayton received a tip on the suspect’s whereabouts and she tracked him down to a local Walmart. According to a witness, the police officer demanded Loyd to freeze, in order to take him into custody. However, the suspect started firing his weapon and fatally shot Sgt. Debra Clayton. She later died in the hospital.

On the same day, Norman Lewis, Orange County Deputy was killed in a car accident while searching for Markeith Loyd.

On Tuesday, January 27^th, police officers discovered the suspect hiding in an abandoned home near Debra Clayton mother’s house. He resisted arrest, but law enforcement officers were able to capture him nonetheless. However, he sustained injuries to the face after he attempted to escape custody. While he was being escorted inside the police station, the suspect could be heard shouting”they beat me up!”.

After John Mina, Orlando Police Chief clarified the situation during a press conference, the suspect was escorted out of police headquarters with bandages on his face, wearing a white jumpsuit, and placed in the back of a cruiser. Police officers said they were going to transport the suspect to a hospital for medical care.

Authorities have issued a reward for anyone who would provide police officers with sufficient information that would lead to the suspect’s arrest. By Tuesday, the reward escalated to $125,000. However, police officials say that even though tipsters tried to provide authorities with valuable information, the leads went cold soon after. John Mina says that the arrest of Markeith Loyd is attributed to police officers’ hard work and determination.

The 41-year-old suspect fled the scene after he allegedly shot his pregnant girlfriend and severely injured her brother as he was trying to protect her. According to jail records, Markeith Loyd faces two counts of aggravated assault, second-degree murder charges, attempted murder, and unlawful killing of an unborn child charges.

Investigators are now looking into the people that allegedly helped Loyd elude authorities, including his ex-girlfriend, his niece, and Zarghee Mayan, a former coworker. The police officers who lost their lives pursuing Markeith Loyd were buried last weekend.

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