Markeith Loyd: Fugitive accused of murdering pregnant wife and cop is captured after nine day manhunt

Rashid Razaq18 January 2017

Police in Florida have captured a fugitive alleged to have murdered his pregnant ex-girlfriend and a police officer after a nine-day manhunt ended at an abandoned house.

Markeith Loyd, 41, was carrying two guns and wearing body armour when a SWAT team swooped on the building last night.

Television images showed Loyd with a bloodied and bandaged face with police saying he resisted arrested before he was taken into custody.

Loyd is accused of shooting dead his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon, 24, and critically wounding her brother Ronald Stewart, 26, at their family home in Orlando on December 13.

Shot dead: Debra Clayton 
AFP/Getty Images

The fried chicken shop worker is alleged to have shot dead police lieutenant Debra Clayton, 42, when she tried to arrest him on January 9. Norman Lewis, a deputy first class with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, was killed in an vehicle accident while searching for Loyd later that day.

Hundreds of officers have been involved in the manhunt with the authorities searching dozens of locations.

Orlando police chief John Mina denied rumours that the arrest was the result of an anonymous tip, saying that Loyd was captured by the dedication of his officers.

“They’ve basically been living in their vehicles, using the bathroom in their vehicles, to try and do everything they could to bring justice for the Dixon family and for the Clayton family,” said Mr Mina.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the arrest was bittersweet adding: “I believe that our entire community is going to breathe a sigh of relief at this point. They will sleep better knowing tonight that... this maniac is off the streets.”

Demings said Loyd would initially be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in relation to Ms Dixon’s death last month. Loyd will also face one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm related to the shooting of Mr Dixon’s brother and threats against other relatives.

Police arrested a former supervisor at the fried chicken restaurant where Loyd worked, an ex-girlfriend and a niece last week on charges of helping him in the weeks after Loyd’s ex-girlfriend was fatally shot.

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