Quote:6 Police Officers Shot in Florida and Pennsylvania, 1 Killed and 5 Wounded.
'Six police officers were shot, one of them fatally, in three separate incidents in Florida
and Pennsylvania late Friday, officials said.
One officer was killed and another gravely injured in Kissimmee around 9:30 p.m., just
south of the theme park hub of Orlando, central Florida.
Two officers were critically wounded in Jacksonville, while two state troopers were shot
in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
In Kissimmee, officers Sam Howard and Matthew Baxter were checking suspects in an
area of the city for drug activity when they were shot, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O'Dell
said at a news conference. They did not have an opportunity to return fire.
"They were surprised," O'Dell said. When asked whether they were ambushed, he said,
"It's too early to tell, but it's leading that way."
The suspect in a police shooting, Everett Glenn Miller.
Police later arrested and charged suspect Everett Glenn Miller, 45, with first degree murder.
"There may have been some type of scuffle, ending in the shooting that took Officer Baxter's
life," O'Dell said. He added that Miller does not seem to have an extensive criminal history.
Officer Matthew Baxter.
Baxter, a three-year veteran of the department, died later at a hospital. The 27-year-old was
married to another officer and father to four young children.
Howard, a 10-year veteran, is still in serious condition.
"There is not much hope that he will survive this," O'Dell said.
The officers were checking three of the suspects when Miller allegedly opened fire and fled.
He was later identified and arrested by the sheriff's office and initially charged with having
two concealed weapons.
"This is devastating to law enforcement and heart breaking," O'Dell said. "They were the
epitome of what you ask for in law enforcement officers."
O'Dell said the officers were not wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting.
President Donald Trump tweeted that his “thoughts and prayers” were with the local police
“and their loved ones.”
Mayor Jose Alvarez said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of our
fallen officer, Matthew Baxter who lost his life in the line of duty.
Our prayers also go out to Sergeant Sam Howard and his family as he remains in critical
condition.
“The entire city of Kissimmee is in mourning. We pray for all law enforcement who are out
there, protecting our community.”
In Jacksonville, Officers Michael Fox and Kevin Jarrell were responding to a call about an
attempted suicide at a house. As the approached the property, officers heard gunfire inside
the home, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director of Patrol and Enforcement Mike Bruno told
NBC News.
Before officers even entered the house, the suspect began shooting at them through the doorway.
"We're talking a gun battle within four or five feet of each other," Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams
said during a press conference on Saturday. "The suspect fired at the officers, two officers were
struck ... and the suspect in the exchange of gunfire was struck twice by the officers."
Williams later identified 25-year-old Derrick Rashard Brabham as the alleged shooter.
He later died from his wounds.
Williams said Brabham had no prior criminal history and it is believed that the incident was fueled
by alcohol. During the conference, Williams showed images of a semi-automatic rifle allegedly
used during the shooting.
Fox is an 11-year veteran of the Jacksonville police force.
Williams said this is his second officer-involved shooting. Jarrell has been on the force for five years.
In Pennsylvania, two troopers were shot and a suspect killed after an incident near store on West
Church Street in Fayette County, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Melinda Bondarenka said
in a statement.
One of the troopers was air-lifted from the scene to a hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia and
the other was taken to a hospital via ambulance, NBC station WPXI reported.
Both were stable and alert, Bondarenka said...'
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