By The Daily News
Florida authorities captured suspected cop killer Markeith Loyd at an abandoned home Tuesday night — ending a week-long manhunt in the Orlando area.
Loyd, 41, is accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend and the sergeant who attempted to bring him into custody on Jan. 9.
“We’ve got him!” Orlando police officials tweeted Tuesday, more than a week after Loyd allegedly killed Sgt. Debra Clayton at a local Walmart.
(Markeith Loyd’s arrest Tuesday night ended one of the most concentrated searches by multiple police agencies in Central Florida history. Courtesy of WESH 2 News and YouTube)
Clayton confronted Loyd in the parking lot after a shopper said he matched the description for the suspect in Sade Dixon’s December death, police said. The fugitive opened fire and Clayton died at a local hospital.
Rewards for information leading to Loyd’s capture escalated to $125,000 by Tuesday, and police said that they had received hundreds of tips.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said that Loyd was captured by a SWAT team Tuesday evening and placed in Clayton’s handcuffs.
He was charged in Dixon’s death early Wednesday. He faces murder, unlawful killing of an unborn child, attempted murder for allegedly wounding Dixon’s brother and two counts of aggravated assault, jail records show.
He faces a second murder charge in Clayton’s death.
Loyd bellowed, “They beat me up,” while cops paraded the nabbed suspect with a swollen and cut face in front of reporters, video shows.
Mina said at a press conference that Loyd received minor “facial injuries” after briefly resisting arrest, and that he had also attempted to flee at one point.
After the media briefing, Loyd, flanked by at least a dozen officers, was escorted out of police headquarters in a white jumpsuit with bandages on his swelling face.
Unlike before, he said nothing as reporters shouted out questions and police put him in the back of a cruiser. He was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
(Markeith Loyd is being treated for injuries he sustained while police say he resisted arrest Tuesday night. Courtesy of WESH 2 News and YouTube)
Girlfriend of accused cop shooter joked about him killing police
It was not immediately clear Tuesday evening what finally led to Loyd’s capture.
The police chief said that Loyd was arrested based off of “police work,” rather than a tip from someone looking to collect the reward.
He said that the fugitive was found in an abandoned house near Clayton’s mother’s home, along with his body armor, two handguns and a drum that can hold 100 bullets.
Last week, Loyd’s former coworker Zarghee Mayan told investigators said that Loyd was wearing a bulletproof vest when he saw him shortly after the girlfriend’s killing.
Mayan, Loyd’s ex-girlfriend and his niece were all arrested for allegedly helping him since the death of Dixon.
Mina said that he expects more arrests as investigators find those who helped Loyd hide.
Clayton, who was one of the first responders at the Pulse nightclub shooting, and Lewis were remembered at separate funeral ceremonies this weekend.
Pastor Derrick McRae, who grew up with Clayton, told the Daily News last week that he thought she was “too nice to be a police officer” when she joined the force, but she said that she wanted to make a change in her community.
In a statement to WKMG-TV, a member of Clayton’s family thanked law enforcement for capturing Loyd, adding that he “is confident that justice will be served.”
(Accused cop killer has lengthly criminal record, courtesy of WPBF 25 News and YouTube)
