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Officer Is Killed and Another Is Gravely Wounded in Kissimmee, Fla., Shooting Officer Is Killed and Another Is Gravely Wounded in Kissimmee, Fla., Shooting
(35 minutes later)
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.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 around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Palmway and Cypress Streets after residents reported the shooting, Chief Jeffrey O’Dell said. The officers 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 to be 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 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. Everett Glen Miller was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, Chief O’Dell said at a news conference on Saturday morning. He was being brought to jail in Officer Baxter’s handcuffs, the chief 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.” The shooting in Kissimmee, about 20 miles south of Orlando, occurred during what Chief O’Dell called a “consensual encounter to get out and check.”
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. “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 to North Kissimmee. 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 Kissimmee. Residents, he said, “get tired of putting up with some of the drug dealing and nonsense that goes on in the neighborhood.”
He added, “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 said on Twitter: “Tonight we lost a brave officer - Matthew Baxter. Husband/father/hero.”
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!” President Trump also weighed in with a tweet posted early Saturday morning: “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. The Kissimmee shooting was the first of two attacks on Florida police officers Friday night. Two sheriff’s officers in Jacksonville were wounded when responding to a suicide call, officials said.
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 officers were shot around 11 p.m. on the city’s west side as they responded to a call about an attempted suicide, said Mike Bruno, director 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.
The gunman was killed, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The three people hiding in the bedroom were not injured, Director Bruno said. 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, Mr. 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, Mr. 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.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. The troopers, who were not identified, were in stable condition, with one airlifted to a hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., and a suspect was killed, WXPI reported.