Latest updates: Loyd arrested after 9-day manhunt

$125,000 reward offered for Markeith Loyd

ORLANDO, Fla. – A more than week long search for fugitive Markeith Loyd is over. Loyd was arrested on Tuesday night, Orlando police said. Loyd is accused of shooting and killing Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton last week outside the Walmart at Princeton Street and John Young Parkway.

Loyd, 41, is also wanted on murder charges in the Dec. 13 slaying of his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

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A $125,000 reward was offered for information leading to Loyd’s arrest, the U.S. Marshals Service added $25,000 to the reward on Jan. 17. Anyone who sees him is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS or 911 and not to approach Loyd. Authorities said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities say they received more than 1,400 tips about Loyd's whereabouts. 

News 6 will post updates to the search below.

TUESDAY

7:05 p.m. The hunt for Loyd ends with his arrest

Loyd was arrested and placed into Sgt. Clayton's handcuffs, Orlando police chief John Mina said. Loyd's capture ended a 9-day hunt for the wanted murder suspect.

3:30 p.m. Loyd added to U.S. Marshals most wanted list

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said they have received tips that Loyd may have changed his appearance by shaving his head. OPD is now circulating a digitally altered picture of him to reflect that possible change.

Mina also said Tuesday that Loyd was added to the U.S. Marshals Service top 15 most wanted list.

Now "the entire nation will know about him," Mina said.

7 a.m. Manhunt for Loyd enters Day 9

Law enforcement continues to search for Loyd, who has evaded capture since mid-December when he shot and killed Sade Dixon, according to police.

The manhunt for Loyd intensified after Clayton was shot and killed early last week, but Loyd has still not been been found.

MONDAY 

5 p.m. Man accused of helping Loyd seeks lower bail

The attorney of Zarghee Mayan, who is accused of helping murder suspect Markeith Loyd avoid capture, wants his client's bail lowered to less than $10,000, according to a motion.

Mayan was arrested the day after Loyd is accused of fatally shooting Clayton. He faces a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. 

11:15 a.m. Tips continue to flood Crimeline

Crimeline told News 6 that it has now received nearly 1,300 tips in connection to the manhunt for Loyd.

Barb Bergin told News 6 reporter Nadeen Yanes that the "phone is ringing off the hook."

Loyd remains on the lam. He's wanted in the fatal shootings of Clayton and Sade Dixon.

6 a.m. Manhunt for Loyd reaches Day 8

Loyd remains on the run as local, state and federal authorities continue to search for him. 

A search Sunday in the Rosemont area of Orlando failed to find Loyd.

SUNDAY 

4 p.m. Search leads to country club

Law enforcement officers in tactical gear searched the abandoned Rosemont Country Club in Orlando, but Loyd was not found.

Authorities say Loyd is armed and dangerous and likely wearing a bulletproof vest.

2:30 p.m. Funeral held for fallen Deputy Norman Lewis

Orange County Deputy Norman Lewis was killed in a crash during a manhunt for Loyd, who remains on the run.

At Lewis' funeral, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings posthumously awarded him with an agency Purple Heart.

"As sheriff, I wish I had 1,500 deputy sheriffs like Norman,” Demings later said.

SATURDAY

2:45 p.m. OPD chief promotes Clayton

Orlando Police Chief John Mina posthumously promoted fallen Master Sgt. Debra Clayton to the rank of lieutenant.

1:13 p.m. Family, friends, colleagues gather for funeral

The funeral for fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Orlando.

Meanwhile, a manhunt continues for Loyd, who is suspected of shooting and killed Clayton, weeks after police said he shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

A funeral Orange County Deputy Norman Lewis, who died in a crash during a manhunt for Loyd, is scheduled to take place Sunday.

FRIDAY

3:18 p.m. Officers respond to tips in Haines City

Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopwood said said a few people have called in tips about possible Loyd sightings. Loyd has family in the Polk County town. Haines City police are in contact with Orlando police and want Loyd found, Hopwood said.

1:42 p.m. Incident causes scare in Rosemont

An incident in Rosemont caused a scare for residents and prompted police to draw their guns. A family found someone sleeping in their car near North Lane and Watch Hill Road, causing concern that it could be Loyd.

Police said it turned out to be a juvenile who got kicked out of his home and fell asleep in his friend's parents' vehicle.

1:15 p.m. Processional for fallen Orlando police officer

The processional carrying fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton to First Orlando Baptist passes by City Hall and OPD HQ.

11:43 a.m. More Crimeline tips

Crimeline told News 6 that it has received 993 tips in connection with the Loyd case.

A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Loyd's capture.

8:10 a.m. Authorities in Polk issue alerts

The search for Loyd expanded into Polk County, as authorities in Haines City issued an alert about the suspected cop killer.

Haines City police said Loyd has family in the area and may be hiding in the city. 

Lakeland police and the Polk County Sheriff's Office also tweeted information about the search for Loyd, urging residents to call 911 and vowing to find Loyd if he's in the area.

7:30 a.m. Support for fallen officers

Nearly $45,000 has been raised for the GoFundMe account of fallen Orlando police Sgt. Debra Clayton.

More than $27,000 has poured into the GoFundMe account of Orange County sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis, who died in a crash during the manhunt for Loyd.

12:55 a.m. Funeral for fallen deputy postponed

The Orange County Sheriff's Office announces that the funeral for Lewis has been postponed until Sunday because of a family emergency.

THURSDAY 

3:30 p.m. Suspected cop killer shot in bullet-proof vest

Orlando police Chief John Mina said Thursday that clothing worn by Loyd at the time of the shooting was found hours later. Mina said the clothing was found in the immediate search area.

"We found his shirts and pants," said Mina, adding that the shirt indicated that Loyd was struck in the chest area but was not seriously injured because he was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

2 p.m. OPD to hold news conference

Orlando police Chief John Mina schedules a "brief media availability" for 3:30 p.m. at police headquarters. No details have been released.

1:30 p.m. Crimeline continues to get tips

With a $100,000 reward being offered for information leading to the capture of Loyd, Crimeline told News 6 on Thursday that it has received 750 tips since Loyd was named as a suspected cop killer.

1 p.m. GoFundMe updates

Funds pledged to fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton's GoFundMe account have reached nearly $42,000. 

Money given to the GoFundMe page for Orange County sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis topped $23,300.

9:30 a.m. Judge sets steep bonds 

Lakensha Smith-Loyd and Jameis Slaughter appear before an Orange County judge. Slaughter's bond is set at $505,000 and Smith-Loyd's bond is set at $750,000. The prosecutor said in court that Smith-Loyd knows where her uncle Markeith Loyd is. "I think it's reasonable to assert that as she stands here today, she knows where he is and has not furnished that information," the prosecutor said.

9:16 a.m. Tips investigated in Volusia

The search for Loyd led investigators to Lake County, officials said.

"We’ve checked on a few tips and suspected sightings, but nothing (was) corroborated and (there is) no indication that Markeith Loyd is in Deltona," the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

7:10 a.m. Police flooded with tips

Orlando police tweet that more than 550 tips have been received in the search for Loyd. The reward for Loyd remains at $100,000.

"We follow up on every viable lead," OPD tweeted. "Call @CrimelineFL (at) 800-423-TIPS."

7 a.m. Money pours in for fallen officers

As of early Thursday, nearly $40,000 has been raised on GoFundMe for fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, who authorities said was shot and killed by Loyd.

About $20,000 has been raised for Orange County sheriff's deputy Norman Lewis, who died in a crash during a manhunt for Loyd.

5 a.m. Police turn up heat

Authorities are making good on promises to go after people they think helped a fugitive in the weeks before he was wanted in the fatal shooting of an Orlando police sergeant. Markeith Loyd's niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, was arrested Wednesday on an accessory charge. Later the same day, authorities arrested an ex-girlfriend of Loyd's: Jameis Slaughter, who also faces an accessory charge. And a day earlier, Zarghee Mayan, the fugitive's supervisor at a fried chicken restaurant, was arrested.

WEDNESDAY

8:15 p.m. Third arrest made

A woman was arrested in connection with the search for Loyd. Officials identified the woman as Jameis Slaughter, an ex-girlfriend of Loyd.

7 p.m. More arrests pending, deputies say

A possible third arrest could happen Wednesday night in connection with Loyd.

Deputies set up barriers along the intake driveway to the Orange County Jail. 

3 p.m. Loyd's niece arrested

Lakensha Smith-Loyd is arrested on an aiding and abetting charge for transporting $200 to Loyd after Dixon's murder, police said.

12:40 p.m. Orange County Sheriff's Office creates GoFundMe page for Deputy Lewis

The Orange County Sheriff's Office started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Lewis' parents.

“All money donated will go directly to Norman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John and Norma Lewis, for their sudden upcoming expenses,”  according to the GoFundMe page for Lewis.

12:05 p.m. Updated Sgt. Clayton funeral arrangements

A public viewing for Sgt. Debra Clayton will be held on Jan. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at First Baptist of Orlando, her funeral will be on Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. also at the First Baptist of Orlando. Read more information here.

10:45 a.m. Man arrested for helping Loyd, officials say

A 33-year-old Orlando man was arrested on a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. An arrest affidavit says Zarghee Mayan helped Loyd avoid capture after the shooting death of Loyd's ex-girlfriend in mid-December.

9:40 a.m. Tipsters continue to call in

Crimeline Executive Director Barb Bergen told News 6 the crime tip line has received more than 550 tips in the past 48 hours with possible information about Loyd. Crimeline gets about 1,000 tips a month.

7 a.m. GoFundMe account grows

Contributions to the GoFundMe account established for fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton has reached more than $26,000. The original goal was $10,000, but it's been increased to $30,000. 

A similar account will be set up for Orange County sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis, who died in a crash during the manhunt for Loyd.

12 a.m. Manhunt continues for Markeith Loyd

Hundreds of officers continue to look for Loyd as the search enters Day 3. Authorities said investigators are following up on hundreds of tips.

"If anybody out there is listening, if you know where he's at and you call us, 3 o'clock in the morning,  3 o'clock this afternoon, we will have people prepared to dispatch to go capture him," Orlando police Chief John Mina said.

TUESDAY

7 p.m. Vigil held outside Walmart

Mourners plan to gather outside the Walmart where Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton was fatally shot. Flowers and other objects have been left in the grocery store's parking lot in honor of the fallen officer.

2:30 p.m. Arrest warrants pending for people authorities believe aided Loyd 

Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and Crimeline executive director Barb Bergin provided an update on the hundreds of tips they are receiving about Loyd's whereabouts.

Demings said the Orange County Sheriff's Office is working to get arrest warrants signed Tuesday for people who they believe helped Loyd avoid arrest over the last month.

Bergin said Crimeline has received more than 300 tips since Monday about Loyd.

Bergin also urged more people to come forward with information.

"Please understand, when we say anonymous, we truly mean anonymous." Bergin said. "We just need to know where (Loyd) is at."

Bergin said tipsters can call at any time of day or night. 

The $100,000 reward for information leading to Loyd's arrest came from "people in the community coming forward who want to see this individual captured," Bergin said.

2:17 p.m. Reward reaches $100,000, FBI most wanted 

The FBI tweets Loyd's photo. The reward for tips leading to his arrest goes up to $100,000.

12:10 p.m. Lake County home searched

Orange County and Orlando law enforcement searched a home in the Clermont subdivision of Tradd Landing after the Sheriff’s Office received a tip.

With permission from the homeowner, SWAT searched the resident and cleared the home.

SWAT team members did not find Loyd.

Monday search effort

Heavily armed Orlando SWAT team members went door to door Monday afternoon into the evening at the Brookeside apartment complex off Orange Blossom Trail searching for Loyd. SWAT eventually breached an apartment using a battering ram, but Loyd was not found.

 

More News 6 team coverage: 

Timeline: How the hunt for Markeith Loyd unfolded

Massive manhunt for suspected Orlando cop killer enters Day 2

Friends mourn loss of deputy killed searching for suspected cop killer

What we know about fallen Orlando police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton

Witness describes moments after OPD officer was fatally shot

Shooter in pregnant woman's death has extensive criminal history

Photos: Orlando officer slain, Orange County deputy dies, manhunt


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