Murder suspect Markeith Loyd faces new charges in death of Orlando police officer

ORLANDO, Fla. — After a contentious appearance in Orange County court Thursday on charges connected to the death of Sade Dixon, Markeith Loyd will be back in front of a judge Friday to face charges in the death of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.

Loyd is accused of killing Dixon, his pregnant ex-girlfriend, in December and Clayton on Jan. 9, outside a Pine Hills-area Walmart.

On top of the charges he's facing in Dixon's death, Loyd is now charged with murder of a law enforcement officer, attempted first-degree murder with a firearm of a law enforcement officer, armed carjacking, wearing a bulletproof vest while committing a felony and aggravated assault.

He's expected to appear in court on the new charges Friday.

Loyd went on a profanity-laced rant during his first court appearance Thursday.

He was appearing on the charges filed in connection with the death of Dixon.

Charges had already been filed against Loyd in Dixon's death when he was caught Tuesday night after a month-long manhunt and was not charged with Clayton's death until Thursday night.

Loyd was somber at first during Thursday's hearing, answering the judge’s questions with a simple “yes” or “no.”

When asked if he wanted a public defender or if he would be hiring a private attorney, Loyd said he would be representing himself at trial.

He then went on a rant for several minutes, saying he was defending himself when Dixon was shot and killed.

“Y’all just making (expletive) up,” he said. “You’re acting like I just went down there and shot this girl.”

“Her little brother got dropped off while me and her were just talking.”

Loyd continued even after the judge warned him that everything he was saying was on the record.

The man arrested on accusations that he gave Loyd money to help him avoid capture, was giving the cash to his niece and daughter to provide for his family, Loyd said.

“That money was not for me,” he said. “I didn’t receive nothing from nobody. I was out there by myself.”

After weeks on the run, Loyd was arrested Tuesday in an abandoned house in the 1100 block of Lescot Lane in Orlando.

Raw: Markeith Loyd leaving ORMC to head to jail

His arrest came more than a week after he allegedly shot and killed Clayton execution-style outside a Pine Hills-area Walmart.

Investigators say they found him wearing body armor and armed with two handguns.

When police went to arrest him, they said Loyd resisted and was injured.

In court, he said that wasn’t the case.

“And then, when they had me in the hospital, Channel 9 news was out there waiting for me to see what they did,” he said. “They done took my eye, they done broke my nose, broke my jaw, they did all that (expletive) and said I resisted.

“But I crawled out to the mother (expletive) road, so how did I resist? I didn’t resist (expletive). They just did that (expletive) and tried to hide it from the news people, but I’m here right now.”

Mina said during a Thursday news conference that he believed his officers "showed incredible restraint" while arresting Loyd.

The judge ordered him held without bond.

As he left the courtroom, Loyd spat a curse at her.

“Hey, (expletive) you,” he said.

After the hearing, Loyd's family members would not comment on the case as they left the courthouse.

Dixon's mother said she was shocked by what happened during the hearing.

"I could not believe what I saw in the courtroom," Stephanie Dixon-Daniels said. "It just shows his ignorance. But justice is going to prevail.

"I believe in the justice system and I'm excited for him to stand trial."

Cox Media Group