Lamaur Stancil

Florida Today

MELBOURNE, Fla. — A pair of arrests were made in the investigation of the man accused of fatally shooting an Orlando police officer, but the suspect remained at large, authorities said.

Acquaintances of Markeith Loyd, 41, were charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder stemming from their actions in the aftermath of the Dec. 13 shooting death of Loyd's ex-girlfriend, Sade Lasha Dixon, and their unborn child, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Loyd was named as a suspect in the shooting shortly afterward.

The Sheriff's Office charged Zarghee Mayan, 33, on Tuesday and Lakensha Smith-Loyd, 27, on Wednesday. Loyd previously worked at New Texas Fried Chicken in Orlando, where Mayan is the manager, affidavits state. Smith-Loyd is Loyd's niece.

Orlando police raise reward for suspect wanted in officer's death

Sometime after Dixon's death, Smith-Loyd went to the chicken shop and asked Mayan for money to give to Loyd, according to the affidavits. Loyd also showed up to the restaurant himself once and received $200 from Mayan, the affidavit states.

Detectives said Smith-Loyd contacted them in December about the Dixon homicide and said she had information about her uncle's whereabouts. However, Smith-Loyd told the detectives she wouldn't reveal his location unless she received information about a weapon found at the crime scene. Detectives said she became uncooperative and stopped talking to them.

Orlando Police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton encountered Loyd on Monday morning at a Walmart and was shot and killed. As Orange County, Fla., deputies joined the search for Loyd, Deputy Norman Lewis was on his motorcycle and was involved in a collision that killed him, authorities said.

Loyd remained at large as of Thursday morning. That's despite 550 tips being called into Crimeline, Orlando police said.

Affidavits for Mayan and Smith-Loyd did not indicate the pair had any information on Loyd's whereabouts since Monday's shooting. But WKMG-TV in Orlando reported Mayan was in contact with Loyd as recently as Saturday.

The reward offered for Loyd's arrest is $100,000.

Follow Lamaur Stancil on Twitter: @TCPalmLStancil

Manhunt underway after fatal shooting of Orlando officer