Fugitive Markeith Loyd was captured on Tuesday, January 17, bringing an end to a month-long manhunt that intensified eight days ago, when he went on the run after killing a law enforcement agent who believed she had identified him as the suspect involved in the murder of a woman in Orlando last month. He is also responsible for the death of an additional officer, whose cruiser crashed while in pursuit of Loyd.
Loyd was wanted for the shooting of a pregnant 24-year-old Sade Dixon, on December 13. Police were unable to establish his whereabouts for more than three weeks but received a tip on January 9 that he was within the vicinity of Sgt. Debra Clayton, who was on duty with Deputy Norman Lewis of the Orange County Sheriff's Dept. When Loyd was approached by Clayton, she was gunned down, leading to a chase that would eventually cost Lewis his life as well.
Coincidentally, Loyd is reported to have been detained only blocks away from the Orlando residence of Sgt. Clayton's mother at around 7 pm. Police say he was wearing body armor and carrying two handguns, including a Glock with a 100-round drum of ammunition. Video of a lumped up Loyd being taken into custody, and hollering about having been beat by the arresting officers, was aired by local news stations. He is said to have been restrained in the very cuffs carried by Clayton, as an honor to the slain Sgt.
Source: instagram.com
