Friday Night Attacks On Police Leaves One Officer Dead, More Critical
Friday night was a night of violence and sadness for police officers in Kissimmee, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Fairchance Borough, Pennsylvania; Carson City, Nevada; and across the nation. Six police officers were shot, one officer was murdered, and another officer was stabbed in the head.
Kissimmee, FL – Two Kissimmee police officers were ambushed and shot on Friday night, August 18.
The incident occurred about 9:27 PM in the area of Cypress and Palmway Streets. The police officers responded to a call of ‘suspicious persons’ and ‘possible drug activity’ in McLaren Circle.
Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said that the first 911 call after the officers arrived came in at 9:32 PM, when someone called to report that the officers were injured and lying in the roadway.
Chief O’Dell said in a news conference that Sergeant Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter were shot upon their arrival at the incident, in what he described as most likely an “ambush”.
He said that when the officers arrived, they began talking with three people, and a fourth person came out of hiding and shot the police officers.
In a news conference, he said that multiple officers from multiple jurisdictions, including the St. Cloud Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the FBI had responded immediately after the 911 call was received, called for EMS, and performed life-saving measures upon their arrival, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
He said, “It breaks my heart to have to come speak to you tonight about another senseless tragedy.”
Chief O’Dell said that Officer Baxter had “succumbed to his injuries”, and that Sergeant Howard was in “grave, critical condition.”
He asked for prayers for the officers, their families, and his agency. One person is in custody in the murder and shooting, and Chief O’Dell said that the suspect, Everett Glenn Miller, has been charged with first-degree murder.
He also said that two out of the three ‘suspicious persons’ that were present when the officers arrived were in custody, and that that they are searching for the third suspect.
He added that the “prognosis” for the second officer “does not look good”, and asked for prayers for the fallen officer’s family, the officer who remains in grave, critical condition and his family, and the officers of his agency.
Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Sheriff’s officers responded to an attempted suicide call on Friday, about 11 PM, on Seaboard Avenue near Timuquana Road, where three other people were reported to be “in danger” and hiding in a bedroom, according to The Washington Post.
Upon their arrival at the residence, they heard gunfire from inside the residence, and believed it to be an “active shooter” situation.
They approached the residence as a “contact team”, and were about to enter through a door when the suspect began shooting at them through the door with a “high-powered rifle.”
The suspect then came outside, continuing to shoot at the officers, who returned fire. The unidentified suspect was shot and killed. During the exchange of gunfire, two Jacksonville police officers were shot.
In a press conference, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office director Mike Bruno said that one officer was shot in the stomach, and the second officer was shot in both hands, according to ClickOrlando.com.
One officer is reported to be in critical condition, and the second officer is listed in stable condition. Their names have not been released. The victims inside the residence were not hurt.
Director Bruno said “We often talk about the inherent dangers of police work. Tonight, those dangers were all too real for these officers. As the officers approached the house, they knew it was a rifle that this individual was shooting and they knew that they were staring danger in the face, and yet they moved forward to meet their commitment they held and that they swore to take to protect this community.”
Fairchance Borough, PA – Two Pennsylvania state troopers were shot on Friday night, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The incident occurred between 8 and 9 PM outside the Fairchance Shop ‘n Save store at 58 West Church Street.
The two troopers, who were possibly working undercover according to witnesses, came into contact with a man they believed had outstanding warrants.
The troopers, who were not identified, stopped the suspect, who pulled a gun out of the backpack he was carrying, and started shooting.
At least one trooper returned fire, and the suspect, who was also not identified, was shot and killed. One trooper was life-flighted to a Morganton hospital, and underwent surgery. He is listed in critical condition.
The second trooper was transported by ambulance to a local ambulance. He is listed in stable condition. Both officers were alert and talking when they were transported to the hospital.
Carson City, NV – An officer was stabbed in the face on Friday about 6:10 PM at the Carson Nugget, according to KOLO TV. A Carson City Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a suspicious person call, and along with two Carson Nugget security guards encountered the suspect in the loading dock area.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said at some point the suspect, who was not identified, pulled out a knife and attacked the deputy, who was not identified.
The struggle continued between the suspect and the deputy, who was able to draw his firearm and shot the suspect. During the struggle, the deputy was stabbed in the face by the suspect.
Sheriff Furlong said that the deputy was a veteran law enforcement officer who he described as “very capable”. Both the deputy and the suspect were taken to a hospital and both are expected to recover.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Kissimmee Police Officer Matthew Baxter, injured Kissimmee Police Sergeant Sam Howard, the two injured Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officers, the two injured Pennsylvania State Troopers, and the injured Carson City Sheriff’s Deputy.
#BlueLivesMatter
