Cop killer and baby killer Markeith Loyd was captured Tuesday night in Orlando, Florida after a month on the run.
Loyd, 41, was taken into custody by Orange County SWAT with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. He was wanted in the shooting deaths of Master Sgt Debra Clayton, 42, and his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, 24, pictured above right.
Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Norman Lewis, left, who attended the same college as Sgt. Clayton, died from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle crash while searching for Loyd. Lewis was laid to rest on Sunday.
Loyd was wanted for questioning in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend in December, when Sgt. Clayton spotted him in a Walmart parking lot on Jan. 9. Police say Sgt. Clayton had been tipped off by a shopper that Loyd was in a checkout line inside the store.
She drew her service weapon and ordered him to stop when he exited the store, but he gunned her down and fled in a stolen vehicle.
Clayton was a 17-year veteran of the Orlando police force. She was one of the 1st officers to respond to the Pulse nightclub mass shootings on June 12. She is survived by a son who is in college.
The murder of Sgt. Clayton touched off an intense manhunt that involved 100 officers.
Loyd later shot at — but missed — a sheriff’s deputy who pursued him to a nearby apartment complex.
According to reports, Loyd was arrested at a vacant house in the Carver Shores area of Orlando on Tuesday. Police say Loyd “cowered” and gave himself up “like a little girl”.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Loyd initially tried to flee, but he ran inside the vacant house when he spotted the heavily armed SWAT officers. He eventually gave himself up.
Mina said Loyd was wearing body armor when he was captured, and he threw 2 weapons on the ground. One automatic weapon had a high capacity magazine capable of firing 100 rounds.
Loyd offered “some resistance” during his arrest and was beaten into submission. He was booked into the Orange County Jail after being taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.
As officers escorted him past reporters, he yelled, “They Beat Me up!”
WATCH: Markeith Loyd brutally murders a female cop and then complains about cops beating him up. pic.twitter.com/XTeJOEHgg0
— Deplorable Vet ?? (@KGBVeteran) January 18, 2017
Chief Mina said police arrested Loyd using Sgt. Clayton’s handcuffs. A $100,000 reward had been offered for information on the cop killer’s whereabouts. Mina said Loyd’s capture was the result of “great police work” and not based on a tip from the public.
Loyd’s ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, was shot multiple times when she answered the door at her parents’ house on Dec. 13. She was three months pregnant.
Dixon’s brother, Ronald Steward, 26, was also shot when he rushed to help his sister. Steward was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Dixon’s parents and two sons, ages 2 and 8, were inside the home at the time of the shootings.
Stephanie Dixon-Daniel said her daughter had just passed her real estate exam and she had a small business selling hair extensions.
“She was a phenomenal woman, did everything she could for her children,” said Dixon-Daniel.
Loyd is a convicted felon who was arrested 20 times since 1994.
He will be charged with 2 counts of 1st degree murder in connection with the deaths of Dixon and her unborn fetus, and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
Charges related to Lt. Clayton’s murder were not announced.
An earlier version of this post was edited to correct the spelling of Markeith Loyd’s name.
