By Christal Hayes and Stephanie Allen
Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — In an unusual first court appearance, Markeith Loyd, the man accused of killing an Orlando police officer, said he plans to represent himself and yelled “f_you!” to the judge as he left the room.
Most defendants appear with an attorney and remain silent the first time they appear before a judge, but Loyd was combative and used profane language while offering a defense to his accused crimes.
The judge attempted to stop Loyd from talking and reminded him that everything he said was being recorded.
Loyd, 41, said he understood and continued, saying police were “making up” what happened the night his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon was shot to death, and that he was defending himself.
When the judge asked if he realized the punishment he faces, Loyd said: “It don’t matter.”
The judge ordered Loyd, who was wearing a protective dark green vest and handcuffs that were wrapped around his waist, remains in the Orange County Jail without bail. Two corrections officers stood on either side of him, holding his arms.
It was the first time Loyd, who also had white gauze covering his left eye and a bandage on his head, appeared in court since his arrest Tuesday night that ended a nine-day manhunt for him. He spent a night at Orlando Regional Medical Center before being brought out in a wheelchair Wednesday evening and taken to the jail.
He was booked in on charges related to the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, including first degree murder. Dixon was shot to death and her brother was seriously hurt Dec. 13 outside her family’s home.
Loyd has not yet been charged in the killing of Lt. Debra Clayton, which sparked the manhunt that stretched several counties and included hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement officers. Clayton was fatally shot Jan. 9 when she approached Loyd outside a Wal-Mart on Princeton Street near John Young Parkway.
Loyd was captured Tuesday night in an abandoned home in the west Orlando neighborhood of Carver Shores, the same neighborhood as Clayton’s family.
Though Loyd surrendered, police say he resisted while they tried to arrest him so they used force, which left his face bloodied and swollen.
A law enforcement official, who did not want to be identified, said Loyd had undergone at least one surgery while at the hospital for injuries during his arrest. An injury could leave him blind in his left eye, the official said.
Late Wednesday, Orlando police Chief John Mina offered new details in the case during a TV interview.
He said he’s watched surveillance footage of the Jan. 9 incident outside Wal-Mart and it shows Clayton trying to get to cover as she exchanged gunfire with Loyd.
Mina told HLN’s Ashleigh Banfield that Loyd hit Clayton once and she fell to the ground. It was a non-life threatening injury.
Then, instead of running to his car to get away, Loyd went over to her, stood over her as she bled and shot her multiple times “execution style,” Mina said.
He said Orlando police are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office to make sure they have a “rock solid” case before filing charges against Loyd in Clayton’s death. He said the charges could be announced this week.
Orange County Deputy Norman Lewis also died in a traffic accident Jan. 9 during the manhunt.
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(c)2017 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)