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One Officer Is Killed and Another Is Gravely Wounded in Kissimmee, Fla., Shooting Officer Is Killed and Another Is Gravely Wounded in Kissimmee, Fla., Shooting
(about 2 hours later)
One police officer was killed and one was seriously wounded Friday night in Kissimmee, Fla., after being shot while checking out a call from residents complaining of suspicious activity on the city’s north side, officials said. A police officer was shot to death and another was seriously wounded Friday night in Kissimmee, Fla., in what the police chief said may have been an ambush while the two men were responding to a call complaining of suspicious activity on the city’s north side.
The two officers, both gravely injured, were found about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Palmway and Cypress Streets after residents called in the shooting, Chief Jeffrey O’Dell said. The two officers, both gravely injured, were found around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Palmway and Cypress Streets after residents reported the shooting, Chief Jeffrey O’Dell said.
One of the officers, Matthew Baxter, who had been on the force for three years, later died. The other, Sgt. Sam Howard, a 10-year veteran, was reported in critical condition “and the prognosis does not look good,” Chief O’Dell said. One of the officers, Matthew Baxter, who had been on the force for three years, later died. The other, Sgt. Sam Howard, a 10-year veteran, was reported to be in critical condition “and the prognosis does not look good,” Chief O’Dell said.
The Kissimmee shooting was among police shootings in three cities on Friday night in which a total of six officers were shot. Two officers were wounded in Jacksonville, Fla., and two State Police troopers were injured in a shooting in Fairchance, Pa. The Kissimmee shooting was the first of two attacks on Florida police officers Friday night. Two sheriff’s officers in Jacksonville were also wounded when responding to a suicide call, officials said.
In Kissimmee, about 20 miles south of Orlando, the shooting occurred during what Chief O’Dell called a “consensual encounter to get out and check.”In Kissimmee, about 20 miles south of Orlando, the shooting occurred during what Chief O’Dell called a “consensual encounter to get out and check.”
Three people have been arrested, including two of those being questioned at the time of the shooting and a third person who is accused of firing on the officers, Chief O’Dell said. Three people have been arrested: Two were among those being questioned at the time of the shooting, and the third is suspected of firing on the officers, Chief O’Dell said.
“Nobody was being placed in handcuffs,” the chief said at a news conference early Saturday. “If all things checked out, the officers would have been on their way.”“Nobody was being placed in handcuffs,” the chief said at a news conference early Saturday. “If all things checked out, the officers would have been on their way.”
Chief O’Dell said officers are often called out to north Kissimmiee. Residents, he said, “get tired of putting up with some of the drug dealing and nonsense that goes on in the neighborhood.” Chief O’Dell said officers are often called to north Kissimmiee. Residents, he said, “get tired of putting up with some of the drug dealing and nonsense that goes on in the neighborhood.”
“And we’re doing our part to try to keep them safe, and then we have this tonight.” He added, “And we’re doing our part to try to keep them safe, and then we have this tonight.”
Gov. Rick Scott, in messages posted on Twitter, said he was “Heartbroken to hear of the loss of these 2 officers. Our prayers are with all of @kissimmeepolice & their loved ones.”Gov. Rick Scott, in messages posted on Twitter, said he was “Heartbroken to hear of the loss of these 2 officers. Our prayers are with all of @kissimmeepolice & their loved ones.”
President Trump also weighed in with a Twitter message posted around 1:30 a.m.: “My thoughts and prayers are with the @KissimmeePolice and their loved ones. We are with you!”
In Jacksonville, two officers were shot around 11 p.m. on the city’s west side as they responded to a call about an attempted suicide, said Director Mike Bruno of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The officers’ names were not released; one was said to be in critical condition and one in stable condition.
When officers arrived at the scene of the reported suicide attempt, they were confronted by a man with a rifle, while three people hid in a back bedroom, Director Bruno said. In the ensuing gunfire, one of the officers was shot in the hands and one in the stomach.
The gunman was killed, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The three people hiding in the bedroom were not injured, Director Bruno said.
A police shooting was also reported Friday night in Fairchance, Pa., where two State Police troopers were shot in their car in a supermarket shopping center, according to ABC News and WXPI-TV in Pittsburgh.
The two officers, who were not identified, are in stable condition, with one airlifted to a hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., and a suspect was killed, WXPI reported.