Orlando Cop Killed In Shooting; Deputy Dies During Manhunt (Video)

ORLANDO, FL — An Orlando Police officer shot in the line of duty Monday morning has died from her injuries as the search for the accused shooter continues. That search has also claimed the life of an Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy, who died as a result of a related traffic crash.

“The Orlando Police Department family is heartbroken today,” the agency tweeted shortly after 10 a.m. Jan. 9. “One of our own was taken in the line of duty.”

The incident that led to the shooting occurred on Princeton Street near a Walmart store around 7:17 a.m. According to Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, 42, spotted a man wanted on an outstanding murder warrant early Monday morning. Clayton radioed to say she was going to contact the man at the North John Young Parkway and Princeton Street store.

See also: Support For Orlando Pours In Following Officers' Deaths

"Two minutes later, officers radioed in to say that an officer had been shot," a media release from the agency said. Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the police department, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center but was pronounced dead at 7:40 a.m.

The police department has identified the suspect as Markeith Loyd, 41. He is wanted in connection with the December death of his pregnant girlfriend, 24-year-old Sade Dixon.

Shortly after Clayton was shot, an Orange County deputy spotted Loyd near North Lane and Pine Hills Drive. Loyd, however, pulled into a nearby apartment complex and fired on the deputy, striking his unmarked SUV twice, the sheriff's office said. The deputy was not injured.

Loyd is then accused of carjacking a vehicle and fleeing again. That vehicle was later abandoned.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings said one of his deputies also died Monday during the subsequent search for Loyd. The motorcycle deputy was critically injured when a motorist turned in front of him. Deputy First Class Norman Lewis was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center but later died from his injuries. Demings is not identifying the deputy at this time.

The manhunt for Loyd remained active Monday evening. A $60,000 reward for information that leads to Loyd's arrest was announced early Monday afternoon.

"I am heartbroken and angry," Gov. Rick Scott said during a Monday media conference in Orlando. "Any act of violence against these heroes is cowardly and shameful and the state will not stand for it."

Scott, who was in Orlando for an unrelated reason, said the state "stands ready to do anything we can to be helpful."

The two deaths come at the start of the state's annual First Responder Appreciation Week. The irony was not lost on Scott.

"(It's) a sobering reminder for each of us to take every opportunity to thank every law enforcement officer," he said.

Clayton was married and leaves behind one child, Mina said. She joined the department in 1999 and was promoted to the rank of master sergeant in 2016.

Anyone who has information about Loyd’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately or 1-800-423-TIPS. Loyd is described as being "armed and dangerous."

The Orlando Police Department has not witnessed a line-of-duty death since Oct. 4, 2007. Officer Al Gordon was shot and killed that day during a robbery at an ATM, the agency reported.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates as they become available.

Photos courtesy of the Orlando Police Department