Two police officers are dead in Kissimmee after being shot Friday night.
Police have a suspect in custody.
Officer Matthew Baxter and Sergeant Sam Howard were responding to a suspicious persons call when they were surprised by gunfire, according to Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Friday at McLaren Circle in Kissimmee.
The two were transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center. Both Baxter and Howard died from their injuries.
Video from the crime scene helped located the suspect about two hours after the shooting. Chief Jeff O’Dell says Evert Miller was apprehended and will be charged with first degree murder.
“He will be transported to the Osceola County Jail and he will be wearing officer Baxter’s handcuffs,” he said Saturday morning.
The two officers were wearing police uniforms and body armor. Chief O’Dell says the officers weren’t able to return fire.
Chief O’Dell said the investigation was still active. He said the department receives many calls to the area the officers were shot.
Officer Baxter, 27, was married to another police officer on the force and had four children. Howard, 36, was married with one child. The City of Kissimmee is collecting donations for their families.
Two officers in Jacksonville were also shot Friday. One officer was in critical condition, the other in stable condition after the incident. A suspect in that case was shot and killed.
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