Reward at $100,000 as massive manhunt continues in Orlando

Authorities on Tuesday raised the reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a man suspected of shooting and killing an Orlando police officer to $100,000 as the FBI placed the fugitive on its most wanted list.

Orange County officials also activated their emergency operations center as federal, state and local law enforcement agents came together to coordinate intelligence-gathering efforts on the case that has prompted a massive manhunt across central Florida.

"We're using every tool to bring (the officer's) killer to justice," said Orlando Police Chief John Mina during a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

Orlando tragedy: Police officer, sheriff's deputy killed

Authorities said they are also following numerous tips on Markeith Loyd, the 41-year-old suspected of shooting and killing Orlando Master Sgt. Debra Clayton during a violent confrontation at a Wal-Mart parking lot. The police department has been actively searching for Loyd since mid-December when he was named as a suspect in the shooting death of his 24-year-old pregnant girlfriend.

"We'll bring him to justice, it's only a matter of time," Mina said, who warned earlier in the investigation that anyone aiding Loyd will be prosecuted. The police department up its reward from $60,000 to $100,000 Tuesday afternoon in a bid to raise awareness and draw out any new information leading to Loyd's location.

Clayton’s slaying also prompted comments from the nation’s top prosecutor, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Lynch said in a speech late Monday that a number of federal resources – including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service – have been committed to help Orlando police to locate Loyd.

“These tragic deaths make clear the great risks that our brave men an women in uniform face each and every day, and the deep and abiding gratitude that our nation owes them for their service,” said Lynch, according to a transcript of her speech at a human trafficking conference in Washington, D.C. late Monday. Lynch also talked about the dangers facing the nation’s law enforcement agents and the risks involved with policing.

“As they are responding to events in their community, they are often the first on the scene of dangerous events – as we saw when they responded to the shootings at the Fort Lauderdale airport last Friday, when five innocent people lost their lives to a gunman,” she said, referring to the incident which left five people dead and the suspected lone gunman in custody.

“My thoughts and prayers – and those of my colleagues at the Department of Justice – are with the families and loved ones of those lost and wounded in these tragic events.”

Officers also held a wreath laying ceremony for Clayton — one of many tributes to take place this week as final memorial preparations get underway. The ceremony took place near Clayton’s patrol vehicle parked outside of police headquarters in downtown Orlando. A Gofundme site was also set up online to raise money for Clayton’s family. The fund, set up by officers at the agency, had an announced goal of $10,000 and had already raised $2,160 in pledges by Tuesday morning.

Clayton was in a brief foot chase with Loyd about 7:15 a.m. Monday  at the Walmart when Loyd turned with his weapon and fired on her, Mina said during a press conference hours after the shooting. Clayton returned fire before collapsing from her injury.

Loyd shot at another deputy and fled the area before other officers arrived.

“The loss of our friend and hero to this community only strengthens our resolve to fight for justice,” he later tweeted after the news conference.

The officer’s shooting death prompted a massive manhunt by hundreds of law enforcement officers as armored vehicles and SWAT teams fanned out to the area near the Walmart retail center where the deadly shooting took place. Loyd’s photo was later plastered on wanted posters and distributed on social media.

Over a dozen Orange County schools were also placed on lockdown Monday. Compounding the tragedy was the death of another officer – Orange County sheriff’s deputy Norman Lewis, a motorcycle patrolman who had joined the search for Clayton’s suspected killer. He died in a traffic crash. Lewis, an 11-year-veteran of the agency, was described as a ‘gentle giant’ by the department.

Check back for details on this continuing story.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter at @JDGallop