Orlando Police Officer Shooting: Markeith Loyd Manhunt Underway After Killing Pregnant Ex-Girlfriend

Law enforcement in Orlando, Florida, launched a manhunt Monday for Markeith Loyd in connection with the fatal shooting of a police officer earlier in the morning. The Orlando Police Department tweeted Loyd's mugshot shortly at about 9:30 a.m. EST Monday, writing that he was "the suspect who shot" an unidentified officer about two hours earlier.

Police got a call Monday at about 7:15 a.m. EST that an "officer need[ed] help" near a Walmart, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The officer was hospitalized after a confrontation with Loyd, who also fired at — and missed — an Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy Monday.

"The Orlando Police Department family is heartbroken today. One of our own was taken in the line of duty," the department wrote on Twitter. "There are no words."

Loyd, 41, was already wanted for the murder of ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon, a 24-year-old real estate agent pregnant with her third child, last month. He also critically wounded Dixon's brother, Ronald Steward, in the Dec. 13 shooting.

Orlando police are familiar with Loyd — he's been arrested more than a dozen times over the past 30 years, according to WFTV.

A witness to Monday's shooting told WFTV Loyd was wearing a security guard's uniform when he opened fire outside Walmart.

"I was walking down the sidewalk, right past the officer, and I heard her tell him to stop, or whatever, and he shot her. He shot her down," James Herman said. "He took off running. It's unreal."

As authorities combed Orlando for Loyd Monday morning, 17 local schools went on lockdown, including Meadowbrook Middle, Evans High and Rolling Hills Elementary. But Orange County Public Schools reassured its followers that all students and teachers were safe, noting that the decision to place the schools on alert was just a precaution due to policy activity.