ORLANDO, Fla. The state attorney prosecuting a man accused of killing an Orlando police officer will seek the death penalty, WKMG-TV reported.
Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King cited several aggravated circumstances that he believes qualify the case for the death penalty, calling the crimes of which Markeith Loyd is accused “especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.”
Gov. Rick Scott took State Attorney Aramis Ayala off the case after she refused to seek the death penalty.
Loyd is accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon on Dec. 13 and then shooting Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton “execution style” on Jan. 9 when she tried to apprehend him at a Wal-Mart.
Deputy Norman Lewis, a native of Port Charlotte, was also killed in January while responding to the murder of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton.
Loyd was found in an abandoned home on Jan. 17 following a nine-day manhunt.