Debra Clayton Shooting Essay

In fulfilling the hope of reducing this tension between the black community and the police, Master Sergeant Debra Clayton was fatally shot and killed. On January 9th, 2017, Officer Debra Clayton was at the local Walmart. While putting her bags in the truck a citizen tipped Clayton off, informing her that Markeith Loyd was in the store. Loyd was wanted for murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend, of twenty-four years old, and for shooting her brother one month prior. Loyd open fired on Clayton when she followed him out the door. Monica Bridget, one of sixty eye-witnesses to the shooting, was getting off work when the incident happened. Bridget stated that she was sitting in her car when she saw Loyd shoot at Clayton. She got out of her car and

She could hear the police sirens on their way. Loyd carjacked a vehicle and fled the scene. Once backup arrived, Bridget pointed them in the direction that Loyd went in. Bridget said that while she was helping Clayton, She started to cry and when she started to spit up blood she knew Clayton was gone. Clayton was shot four times. Although, Bridget did not know Clayton personally they would always wave to each other at the store and she wished that she could have done more to help save her. The Captain of the Police Department spotted the vehicle and got behind him. Loyd began shooting at the responding officers, hitting the captain and a deputy that was in a unmarked SUV. Unfortunately, Loyd got away and went into hiding. While on lookout for Loyd, Officer Norman Lewis was in a vehicle accident. Another vehicle pulled out in front, striking Lewis on his motorcycle and killing him. Markeith Loyd has been a fugitive since December 13, 2016, for his initial charge of murder for his ex-girlfriend. Finally, on January 17th Loyd was caught and arrested. The handcuffs of Master Sergeant Debra Clayton was placed on Loyd as her final

It paints a negative picture on the department by letting the manhunt go on for so long. There leaves a lot of “what ifs” by the public from this like: “What if they caught him sooner? Would she still be gone? What if she didn’t follow him? What would happen?” Many of these questions will be unanswered. The effects of losing a mother, a friend and a helping hand will be everlasting but it also leaves the door open for positivity and her work to continue on. To help prevent these incidents in the future the department and many others should have procedures in place or enforce ones to always call for backup before proceeding with action. If backup doesn’t come in time, tail the suspect and continuously give updates on your location to catch the suspect safely and more efficiently. Following the incident, Clayton’s patrol car was vandalized, adding more negativity to what was already a bad situation. The department was tainted when the family was told that they would not be receiving her full pension the community went in an up roar. A state law was passed a year before the incident that stated the spouse or primary beneficiary of a