I`m reading this now......3 different cities.
Suspect charged in shooting death of Kissimmee officer; 'not much hope' for 2nd shot cop.
A Marine veteran has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death on Friday of a Kissimmee Police officer, and there is “not much hope” a second officer he’s accused of shooting will survive, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said this morning.
Police arrested 45-year-old Everett Glenn Miller Saturday morning in the shooting. O’Dell said the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office recently took Miller into custody under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows involuntary commitment of people in mental health crises.
Officer Matthew Baxter was killed and Sgt. Richard “Sam” Howard was shot and is in grave condition, O’Dell said. The uniformed officers were investigating three suspicious people in the area of Palmway and Cypress streets about 9:30 p.m. Five minutes later, dispatchers received the first call reporting the officers had been shot.
The officers did not have time to return fire. O’Dell said “it looked like they were surprised” by the gunfire.
<aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod trb_ar_ym">O’Dell said Miller fled to Roscoe’s Bar at 2344 N Orange Blossom Trail, where he was later arrested.
Baxter, 27, was married to a fellow Kissimmee Police officer, with whom he shared three young children, O’Dell said. Howard, 36, has one child.
“They are both wonderful men, family men. They are both very committed to the community,” O’Dell said. “They were the epitome of what you ask for in law enforcement officers.”
Baxter and Howard were wearing body armor underneath their uniforms when they were shot, O’Dell said. Howard is a 10-year veteran of the department and Baxter had been with the Kissimmee department for three years.
As of 9 a.m. Saturday, Howard remained in critical condition; O’Dell said there was “not much hope that he will survive this.”
Miller, who had two guns — a 9mm and .22 revolver — was taken into custody about 11:30 p.m. Friday. O’Dell said officers plan to put Baxter’s handcuffs on Miller when they take him to the Osceola County Jail Saturday.
O’Dell said he did not expect to make any additional arrests.
“This is a tough time for each and every one of us,” O’Dell said.
O’Dell said the news is especially difficult for members of his agency, as they must press forward while suffering the loss of a coworker and friend.
“We do not get to stop and cry for someone we’ve lost or mourn our hero,” O’Dell said. “At the time we go through it, the men and women of law enforcement are required to continue working and bring this individual to justice.”
O’Dell said the community needs to work with law enforcement. Social media posts showed Miller threatening law enforcement, O’Dell said, “but we never got a call on that.’’
Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. said he couldn’t believe the news.
"It's just awful. We're praying for the families of these officers and for the whole KPD family," he said.
The last officer killed on the job was shot 1983.
Carlos Santiago, 37, was driving with his wife and daughter back from dinner on International Drive on Friday night when they saw dozens of patrol cars speed past them on Orange Blossom Trail.
"They were just flying," he said. "It was pretty obvious something bad had happened."
The area where the shooting happened is in McLaren Circle, which has historically been plagued by crime. O’Dell said Howard and Baxter were doing proactive police work there because it is known for drug sales. In 2008, law enforcement led a crackdown on drugs and violence that “ravaged the McLaren Circle area,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Officers arrested 19 people during that operation, and witnesses in subsequent court cases testified crime was so rampant that mobile businesses such as FedEx, UPS, pizza delivery and taxi services “refused to enter the area to provide services to residents.” Even the U.S. Postal Service stopped its route through the neighborhood for a time.
"It's fairly well known as not a great area. It's pretty rundown compared to the rest of the city and it's known for having more crime," Santiago said.
While the media waited for O'Dell to address the public in front of the emergency entrance at Osceola Regional Medical Center on Friday night, two women were being escorted out of the building by two police officers. They were both crying and huddled before they saw the lights and cameras outside and dashed back into the building.
At least four Osceola deputies were stationed by the south entrance to the hospital, wearing body armor and carrying heavy guns, standing next to their patrol cars.
Alexis Nieves, 27, was driving to see a friend when she got stopped at a red light on Orange Blossom Trail and U.S. Highway 192.
She saw a few cop cars then dozens started arriving to the intersection. She looked to her left and saw an officer with a long gun, the she saw a person being loaded into an ambulance. There were helicopters circling the in the area.
Emergency crews were doing CPR and trying to resuscitate the person. Nieves didn't know it was an officer who had been shot.
"I just started crying," she said. "I didn't know what to think. It's so sad."
Nieves said she saw said more than 80 law enforcement vehicles flooding the area, along with fire trucks and EMS vehicles.
"I was in the middle of it all and couldn't believe what was happening," she said. "I called my friend in tears. I've never seen anything like that."
Messages of support flowed out from across the country.
On its Twitter account, the Orlando Police Department said, “Please keep @kissimmeepolice in your prayers tonight.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also offered its own message of comfort, saying, “Our solidarity is with @kissimmeepolice as they deal with this tragic loss.”
O'Dell praised other police agencies, including the Osceola and Orange sheriff's offices and Orlando Police Department, for their help.
“Everyone came to the scene without being asked. We don’t get to stop for a minute and cry for somebody we’ve lost or mourn a hero at the time we’re going through it.”
Kissimmee Police has 104 officers. O’Dell took over the department in August 2016.
On Friday night, there was also a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that two police officers had been shot on the Westside of Jacksonville. Two Pennsylvania Troopers were also reported shot late Friday.
The shootings received nationwide attention, with President Donald Trump sending thoughts and prayers to the Kissimmee Police.
It has been a dangerous year for law enforcement in Central Florida. Lt. Debra Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, was killed in a gunfight in the Wal-Mart parking lot while attempting to arrest Markeith Loyd, a suspect in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Loyd was later captured after a nine-day manhunt.
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis, a motorcycle officer, was also killed that day during the pursuit for Loyd.
</aside>
A Marine veteran has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death on Friday of a Kissimmee Police officer, and there is “not much hope” a second officer he’s accused of shooting will survive, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said this morning.
Police arrested 45-year-old Everett Glenn Miller Saturday morning in the shooting. O’Dell said the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office recently took Miller into custody under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows involuntary commitment of people in mental health crises.
Officer Matthew Baxter was killed and Sgt. Richard “Sam” Howard was shot and is in grave condition, O’Dell said. The uniformed officers were investigating three suspicious people in the area of Palmway and Cypress streets about 9:30 p.m. Five minutes later, dispatchers received the first call reporting the officers had been shot.
The officers did not have time to return fire. O’Dell said “it looked like they were surprised” by the gunfire.
<aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod trb_ar_ym">O’Dell said Miller fled to Roscoe’s Bar at 2344 N Orange Blossom Trail, where he was later arrested.
Baxter, 27, was married to a fellow Kissimmee Police officer, with whom he shared three young children, O’Dell said. Howard, 36, has one child.
“They are both wonderful men, family men. They are both very committed to the community,” O’Dell said. “They were the epitome of what you ask for in law enforcement officers.”
Baxter and Howard were wearing body armor underneath their uniforms when they were shot, O’Dell said. Howard is a 10-year veteran of the department and Baxter had been with the Kissimmee department for three years.
As of 9 a.m. Saturday, Howard remained in critical condition; O’Dell said there was “not much hope that he will survive this.”
Miller, who had two guns — a 9mm and .22 revolver — was taken into custody about 11:30 p.m. Friday. O’Dell said officers plan to put Baxter’s handcuffs on Miller when they take him to the Osceola County Jail Saturday.
O’Dell said he did not expect to make any additional arrests.
“This is a tough time for each and every one of us,” O’Dell said.
O’Dell said the news is especially difficult for members of his agency, as they must press forward while suffering the loss of a coworker and friend.
“We do not get to stop and cry for someone we’ve lost or mourn our hero,” O’Dell said. “At the time we go through it, the men and women of law enforcement are required to continue working and bring this individual to justice.”
O’Dell said the community needs to work with law enforcement. Social media posts showed Miller threatening law enforcement, O’Dell said, “but we never got a call on that.’’
Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. said he couldn’t believe the news.
"It's just awful. We're praying for the families of these officers and for the whole KPD family," he said.
The last officer killed on the job was shot 1983.
Carlos Santiago, 37, was driving with his wife and daughter back from dinner on International Drive on Friday night when they saw dozens of patrol cars speed past them on Orange Blossom Trail.
"They were just flying," he said. "It was pretty obvious something bad had happened."
The area where the shooting happened is in McLaren Circle, which has historically been plagued by crime. O’Dell said Howard and Baxter were doing proactive police work there because it is known for drug sales. In 2008, law enforcement led a crackdown on drugs and violence that “ravaged the McLaren Circle area,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Officers arrested 19 people during that operation, and witnesses in subsequent court cases testified crime was so rampant that mobile businesses such as FedEx, UPS, pizza delivery and taxi services “refused to enter the area to provide services to residents.” Even the U.S. Postal Service stopped its route through the neighborhood for a time.
"It's fairly well known as not a great area. It's pretty rundown compared to the rest of the city and it's known for having more crime," Santiago said.
While the media waited for O'Dell to address the public in front of the emergency entrance at Osceola Regional Medical Center on Friday night, two women were being escorted out of the building by two police officers. They were both crying and huddled before they saw the lights and cameras outside and dashed back into the building.
At least four Osceola deputies were stationed by the south entrance to the hospital, wearing body armor and carrying heavy guns, standing next to their patrol cars.
Alexis Nieves, 27, was driving to see a friend when she got stopped at a red light on Orange Blossom Trail and U.S. Highway 192.
She saw a few cop cars then dozens started arriving to the intersection. She looked to her left and saw an officer with a long gun, the she saw a person being loaded into an ambulance. There were helicopters circling the in the area.
Emergency crews were doing CPR and trying to resuscitate the person. Nieves didn't know it was an officer who had been shot.
"I just started crying," she said. "I didn't know what to think. It's so sad."
Nieves said she saw said more than 80 law enforcement vehicles flooding the area, along with fire trucks and EMS vehicles.
"I was in the middle of it all and couldn't believe what was happening," she said. "I called my friend in tears. I've never seen anything like that."
Messages of support flowed out from across the country.
On its Twitter account, the Orlando Police Department said, “Please keep @kissimmeepolice in your prayers tonight.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also offered its own message of comfort, saying, “Our solidarity is with @kissimmeepolice as they deal with this tragic loss.”
O'Dell praised other police agencies, including the Osceola and Orange sheriff's offices and Orlando Police Department, for their help.
“Everyone came to the scene without being asked. We don’t get to stop for a minute and cry for somebody we’ve lost or mourn a hero at the time we’re going through it.”
Kissimmee Police has 104 officers. O’Dell took over the department in August 2016.
On Friday night, there was also a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that two police officers had been shot on the Westside of Jacksonville. Two Pennsylvania Troopers were also reported shot late Friday.
The shootings received nationwide attention, with President Donald Trump sending thoughts and prayers to the Kissimmee Police.
It has been a dangerous year for law enforcement in Central Florida. Lt. Debra Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, was killed in a gunfight in the Wal-Mart parking lot while attempting to arrest Markeith Loyd, a suspect in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Loyd was later captured after a nine-day manhunt.
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis, a motorcycle officer, was also killed that day during the pursuit for Loyd.
</aside>
Sgt. Richard "Sam" Howard
Officer Matthew Baxter
Suspect Everett Glenn Miller ##)##)
Also Jacksonville FL. and Pennsylvania
[h=1]2 Police Officers Injured In Jacksonville Shooting, Suspect Dead. [/h]Two Jacksonville officers were shot with a high-powered rifle Friday night on the city's Westside while responding to an attempted suicide call.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said one officer is in critical condition and one officer is stable. The suspect was shot by police and later died at the hospital.
Police were dispatched to an attempted suicide call at 10:50 p.m. at a home in the 5100 block of Seaboard Avenue near Timuquana Road, JSO Director Mike Bruno said.
Police were told that three people were hiding in the back room and the suspect had armed himself with with a high-powered rifle.
As the officers arrived, they could hear shots coming from the home. Four to five officers responded to the home and were attempting to make entry into the house as contact team, Bruno said.
As the officers approached the house, the suspect began shooting through a door at the officers. The suspect then came through the door and advanced toward the officers, Bruno said.
The suspect and the officers exchanged gunfire. The suspect was hit with gunfire and stopped advancing toward the officers. One officer was shot in the hands and one officer was shot in the stomach, Bruno said.
The three people who were inside the home are safe. Police are continuing to interview those witnesses.
“We often talk about the inherent dangers of police work, but tonight, those dangers were all too real for these officers,” Bruno said. “As I said, as they were approaching the house, they knew this was a rifle that the individual was shooting and they knew that they were staring danger in the face. And yet, they moved forward to meet their commitment that they held, that they swore to take to this community.”
The identities of the officers shot and the suspect killed have not yet been released. Bruno said more updates will be given later on Saturday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said one officer is in critical condition and one officer is stable. The suspect was shot by police and later died at the hospital.
Police were dispatched to an attempted suicide call at 10:50 p.m. at a home in the 5100 block of Seaboard Avenue near Timuquana Road, JSO Director Mike Bruno said.
Police were told that three people were hiding in the back room and the suspect had armed himself with with a high-powered rifle.
As the officers arrived, they could hear shots coming from the home. Four to five officers responded to the home and were attempting to make entry into the house as contact team, Bruno said.
As the officers approached the house, the suspect began shooting through a door at the officers. The suspect then came through the door and advanced toward the officers, Bruno said.
The suspect and the officers exchanged gunfire. The suspect was hit with gunfire and stopped advancing toward the officers. One officer was shot in the hands and one officer was shot in the stomach, Bruno said.
The three people who were inside the home are safe. Police are continuing to interview those witnesses.
“We often talk about the inherent dangers of police work, but tonight, those dangers were all too real for these officers,” Bruno said. “As I said, as they were approaching the house, they knew this was a rifle that the individual was shooting and they knew that they were staring danger in the face. And yet, they moved forward to meet their commitment that they held, that they swore to take to this community.”
The identities of the officers shot and the suspect killed have not yet been released. Bruno said more updates will be given later on Saturday.
[h=1]2 PA state troopers shot, suspect killed in Fayette County shooting.[/h]
FAYETTE COUNTY (WPVI) --
Two Pennsylvania State Troopers are in the hospital after they were shot on the job.
The troopers came under fire during a call in Fayette County, southeast of Pittsburgh.
Investigators say the suspect was stopped for an outstanding warrant.
As troopers approached him, possibly while undercover, police say the suspect pulled a gun from a backpack and fired shots.
The troopers were injured, but one of them got off at least one shot, killing the suspect.
Both troopers are expected to survive.
FAYETTE COUNTY (WPVI) --
Two Pennsylvania State Troopers are in the hospital after they were shot on the job.
The troopers came under fire during a call in Fayette County, southeast of Pittsburgh.
Investigators say the suspect was stopped for an outstanding warrant.
As troopers approached him, possibly while undercover, police say the suspect pulled a gun from a backpack and fired shots.
The troopers were injured, but one of them got off at least one shot, killing the suspect.
Both troopers are expected to survive.
What a surprise, shot by a black man. I will be honest with everyone, I knew it was going to be a black perpetrator but I had to look it up. It is almost always a black person. That doesn't make me a racist, it makes me a realist.
Derrick Rashard Brabham, 25,....Jacksonville shooter.
