KISSIMMEE, Florida -- One officer was shot and killed and another was gravely injured Friday night in what the Kissimmee Police chief said might have been an ambush in McLaren Circle.
Police Chief Jeff O’Dell reported Officer Matthew Baxter was killed and Sgt. Sam Howard was shot and is in grave condition. The uniformed officers were responding to a call at 9:30 p.m. in the area of Palmway and Cypress streets.
“It breaks my heart to have to come speak to you tonight about another senseless tragedy,” O’Dell said.
At least two people were taken into custody and police were searching for a third suspect.
When asked about whether the officers were ambushed, O’Dell said it was too early to say, but it was “leading toward that.”
He said both officers were husbands and fathers.
“This is a tough time for each and every one of us,” O’Dell said.
Howard was a 10-year veteran of the department and Baxter had been with the Kissimmee department for three years.
Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. said he couldn’t believe the news.
"It's just awful. We're praying for the families of these officers and for the whole KPD family," he said.
The last officer killed on the job was in 1983 after being shot.
Information about those in custody was not immediately provided.
Carlos Santiago, 37, was driving with his wife and daughter back from dinner on International Drive when they saw dozens of patrol cars speed past them on Orange Blossom Trail.
"They were just flying," he said. "It was pretty obvious something bad had happened."
The area where the shooting happened is in McLaren Circle.
"It's fairly well known as not a great area. It's pretty run down compared to the rest of the city and it's known for having more crime," Santiago said.
FHP said there was “heavy police activity” in the area and told people to avoid the area. There was also a large police presence at Roscoe’s late Friday.
While the media waited for O'Dell to address the public in front of the emergency entrance at Osceola Regional Medical Center, two women were being escorted out of the building by two police officers. They were both crying and huddled before they saw the lights and cameras outside and dashed back into the building.
At least four Osceola deputies were stationed by the south entrance to the hospital, wearing body armor and carrying heavy guns, standing next to their patrol cars.
Alexis Nieves, 27, was driving to see a friend when she got stopped at a red light on Orange Blossom Trail and U.S. Highway 192.
She saw a few cop cars then dozens started arriving to the intersection. She looked to her left and saw an officer with a long gun, the she saw a person being loaded into an ambulance. There were helicopters circling the in the area.
Emergency crews were doing CPR and trying to resuscitate the person. Nieves didn't know it was an officer who had been shot.
"I just started crying," she said. "I didn't know what to think. It's so sad."
Nieves said she saw said more than 80 law enforcement vehicles flooding the area, along with fire trucks and EMS vehicles.
"I was in the middle of it all and couldn't believe what was happening," she said. "I called my friend in tears. I've never seen anything like that."
Messages of support flowed out from across the country.
On its Twitter account, the Orlando Police Department said, “Please keep @kissimmeepolice in your prayers tonight.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also offered its own message of comfort, saying, “Our solidarity is with @kissimmeepolice as they deal with this tragic loss.”
Kissimmee Police has 104 officers. O’Dell took over the department in August 2016.
On Friday night, there was also a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that two police officers had been shot on the Westside of Jacksonville. Two Pennsylvania Troopers were also reported shot late Friday.
The shootings received nationwide attention, with President Donald Trump sending thoughts and prayers to the Kissimmee Police.
It has been a dangerous year for law enforcement in Central Florida. Lt. Debra Clayton, a 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, was killed in a gunfight in the Wal-Mart parking lot while attempting to arrest Markeith Loyd, a suspect in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Loyd was later captured after a nine-day manhunt.
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis, a motorcycle officer, was also killed that day during the pursuit for Loyd.
Earlier reports Friday night from official sources indicated that two officers had died.
Staff Writers Bianca Padro Ocasio, Christal Hayes, Krista Torralva and Gal Tziperman Lotan contributed to this report.
Copyright 2017 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)
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