ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the shooting of a police officer in Orlando, Florida (all times local):
5:15 p.m.
Authorities have identified the Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was killed in a motorcycle crash when responding to a massive manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of an Orlando police sergeant.
The sheriff’s office said Monday that he is 35-year-old Deputy First Class Norman Lewis.
Lewis was killed when his motorcycle collided with a van as he was responding to a manhunt for 41-year-old Markeith Loyd.
Loyd is a suspect in the fatal shooting of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department.
Lewis had been with the sheriff’s office for 11 years and Sheriff Jerry Demings described him as “a gentle giant.”
The sheriff’s office says he had played football for the University of Central Florida.
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4:05 p.m.
Authorities say they’ve searched dozens of apartments and residences as part of a massive manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of an Orlando police sergeant.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at a news conference Monday afternoon that the focus of the manhunt was on an apartment complex in the northwest part of the metro area.
Mina says authorities have probable cause to arrest 41-year-old Markeith Loyd for first-degree murder in the death of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
Authorities say Clayton was fatally shot after she approached Loyd outside a Wal-Mart store Monday morning. He was wanted for questioning in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend last month.
Mina says Clayton returned fire but Loyd wasn’t hit. The chief also says Clayton was wearing body armor.
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2:40 p.m.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings is urging a suspect wanted for the murder of an Orlando police officer to turn himself in to authorities.
Demings spoke Monday at a news conference held near the area in northwest metro Orlando where hundreds of officers from multiple police agencies were searching for 41-year-old Markeith Loyd.
Demings says the best thing he could tell the suspect is to surrender so the situation can be resolved peacefully.
Loyd is suspected in the shooting death of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
Authorities say Clayton was shot after she approached Loyd outside a Wal-Mart store Monday morning. He was wanted for questioning in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend last month.
11:15 a.m.
Authorities say a deputy has been killed in a motorcycle crash while searching for a suspect in the shooting death of an Orlando police officer.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a press conference Monday that another vehicle turned in front of the deputy, who was riding a motorcycle in pursuit of 41-year-old Markeith Loyd. Loyd is suspected in the shooting death of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton. A massive manhunt was underway for him.
Clayton was shot and killed in the line of duty near a Wal-Mart in Orlando. Police Chief John Mina says Loyd also is wanted in the slaying of a pregnant woman.
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10:25 a.m.
An Orlando police officer who was gunned down while on duty has died.
Orlando police announced the officer’s death on its official Twitter account Monday morning. The shooting happened near a Walmart store in Orlando earlier Monday morning.
The tweet said, “One of our own was taken in the line of duty. There are no words.” With the Twitter post was a video of the officer’s body being taken out of the hospital to a waiting van in a flag-covered stretcher.
Police tell news outlets that suspect Markeith Loyd is still on the run. A massive manhunt is underway and several schools are in lockdown mode.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact authorities.
A news conference is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
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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 Sentinel (https://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.
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Information from: Orlando Sentinel, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/
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