2 Florida Police Officers Killed, 4 Others Injured In 3 Separate Shootings

Six police officers were shot, two of them fatally, in three separate incidents that took place in Florida and Pennsylvania Friday night.

In Kissimmee, Florida, two police officers were shot in what Chief Jeffrey O'Dell said appears to have been an ambush. One of the officers, identified as Officer Matthew Baxter, died in the shooting and officials say the second officer, Sgt. Sam Howard, was in "grave condition." On Saturday afternoon, police said Howard succumbed to his injuries.

A 45-year-old man, identified as Everett Miller, a Marine veteran faces a first-degree murder charge for killing Baxter, 27. Additional charges for the shooting of Howard, 36, are also likely.

"This is a tough time in law enforcement," O'Dell said at a press conference. "I would ask that you pray for the men and women of law enforcement."

During a Saturday press conference, O'Dell explained that Baxter was "checking out" three suspicious people. Miller was one of them. A scuffle between Baxter and Miller reportedly ensued. Howard, Baxter's sergeant, arrived as backup, The Associated Press reported.

The scuffle broke out around 9:30 p.m. in the area of Palmway and Cypress, O'Dell said. Within minutes, 911 calls began to come in about officers down.

On the heels of that shooting, two officers with the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff's Office were shot and a suspect, who was shot by police, died at the hospital, the sheriff's office said. One of the officers was shot in both hands and the second was shot in the stomach with a high-powered rifle, officials said.

Just before 11 a.m., officers were responding to an attempted suicide call at a home where three victims had retreated into a back bedroom for their safety, Director Mike Bruno of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in an early morning press conference. The suspect armed himself with a rifle as officers were enroute to the home and when officers arrived at the scene they could hear gunfire coming from the house, Bruno said.

The officers were going to attempt entry into the home because they thought there was an active shooter type situation in the home and as officers attempted to make entry into the home, the suspect began shooting through the door at the officers, Bruno said. The suspect then exited the home and there was exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officers where the suspect and two officers were struck. About four to five officers responded to the scene.

Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Derrick Rashard Brabham.

"We often talk about the inherent dangers of police work. Tonight those dangers were all too real for these officers," Bruno said.

The two officers who were shot, Officer Kevin Jarrell and Officer Mike Fox, both had serious injuries but were in stable condition.

President Donald Trump offered his thoughts late Saturday night to the officers shot in Kissimmee.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott offered his thoughts to the slain officer in Kissimmee and said he was praying for a quick recovery for Sgt. Howard. When news of Howard's passing broke, Scott offered his thoughts and prayers.

Also on Friday night in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, two State Troopers who had arranged a meeting with a suspect thought to be selling stolen items related to recent burglaries in the area were shot just before 8 p.m. Friday in a borough about an hour south of Pittsburgh.

State police said that the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Clarence Belsar, began to walk away when he saw the troopers and ignored commands to stop. When the troopers attempted to stop Belsar, a struggle ensued and officials say Belsar pulled a handgun, firing one shot that struck both troopers. The officers returned fire, killing Belsar, police said.

One of the troopers was shot in the hand and was treated and released. The second trooper suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen and is listed in serious condition but is expected to recover. The investigation is active and is being conducted alongside the Fayette County District Attorney's Office.

Reporting by Sherri Lonon and The Associated Press was used in this story.

Image via Kissimmee Police