Matthew Baxter, a 27-year-old police officer with the Kissimmee Police Department, tragically lost his life on August 18, 2017. Officer Baxter and his partner, Sergeant Richard "Sam" Howard, were responding to reports of suspicious individuals in the area of Palmway and Cypress Streets in Kissimmee, Florida. During their interaction with the suspects, a confrontation ensued, leading to both officers being shot.
Officer Baxter succumbed to his injuries that night, while Sergeant Howard passed away the following day.
The assailant, Everett Miller, was apprehended approximately two hours after the shooting. He was found in possession of two handguns at the time of his arrest. Miller was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder. In September 2019, he was convicted of these charges, and in November 2019, a jury recommended the death penalty. The judge upheld this recommendation, and in 2022, Miller was officially sentenced to death.
The case garnered significant attention, not only due to the tragic loss of two officers but also because of the legal proceedings that followed. Miller's defense team filed several motions, including one to seek a life sentence instead of the death penalty and another challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty in Florida. Both motions were denied. The case was also notable for the involvement of then-State Attorney Aramis Ayala, who initially refused to pursue the death penalty, leading to the case being reassigned to another prosecutor by the governor.
Throughout the legal process, Officer Baxter's widow, Sadia Baxter, who is also a law enforcement officer, attended every hearing, advocating for justice for her husband and his partner. The sentencing of Everett Miller brought a sense of closure to the families and the community, although the pain of their loss remains. The case highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the impact of such tragedies on their families and communities.
