DEADLY NIGHT FOR COPS: Two Shot, One Dead In Suspected Ambush

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Thomas Phippen

One police officer was killed and two others wounded after responding to a routine call in what authorities say might have been an ambush in Florida Friday night.

Two officers were shot in what officials say may have been an ambush after responding to a routine call in Kissimmee, Fla., at 9:27 p.m. Friday. Minutes later, Kissimmee Police dispatch received word that the officers had been shot at, police Chief Jeffrey O’Dell said in a press conference.

Kissimmee residents often “get tired of putting up with some of the drug dealing and nonsense that goes on in the neighborhood” and call the police to come check it out, O’Dell said.

The two responding officers, Matthew Baxter and Sam Howard, arrived at the scene and spoke with three individuals when a fourth person arrived and began shooting. The officers were not able to shoot back.

“They were surprised,” O’Dell said. “It’s too early to tell” O’Dell said when asked if it was an ambush, but added “it’s leading that way.”

Both sustained injuries from gunshots. Baxter later died from his injuries and Howard is in grave condition, Kissimmee police department said on Twitter.

At least two people were taken into custody and police are looking for a third suspect.

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

The area where the cops were shot, about 20 miles south of Orlando is known for having drug activity. The shooting death of officer Baxter is the first time a Kissimmee police officer has been killed on the job since 1983, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

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