2 Officers Dead in Orlando as Police Hunt Suspect

A massive manhunt was underway Monday in central Florida as authorities searched for a man accused of shooting and killing an Orlando police officer. At about 1pm, police had surrounded an apartment complex and were calling the suspect by name and demanding that he come out, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Earlier, the police department announced the death of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton on its official Twitter account. A short time later, authorities said at a press conference that a second law enforcement officer was killed in a vehicle accident while searching for the suspect in Clayton's killing. Her shooting occurred near a Walmart store in northwest Orlando earlier Monday. The suspect has been identified as Markeith Loyd, 41.

Authorities said Loyd was previously a suspect in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend last December. "He should be considered armed and dangerous," Police Chief John Mina said at a press conference. "He will be brought to justice." Mina lauded Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the force as a "committed" officer and "a hero" who gave her life to the community she loves. The tweet said Clayton always had a smile and a high-five for every child she came across. Clayton was married and had two children. She died Monday at 7:40am, less than an hour after she was shot while on duty. (More manhunt stories.)