ORLANDO, Fla. – Aramis Ayala, a Florida prosecutor, surprised many when she released a statement stating that capital punishment will no longer be pursued by her office.

Ayala is considered to be a political novice, as she was just elected seven months ago. She is a known Democrat with past posts as an Assistant State attorney and a Public Defender. Ayala’s move surprised many, and they believe that this will affect her political future if she continues to pursue re-election in 2020.

Florida is known to be a state with one of the highest number of probable death penalty cases; 381 convicts are on death row.

As a reaction to her statement, Republican Governor Rick Scott transferred Markeith Loyd’s case, a case with a possible death penalty handled by Ayala, to another prosecutor, Brad King.

Faced with 11 counts including the killing of his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon, and Lt. Debra Clayton, a Police Officer, Markeith Loyd’s case was clearly leading to a death sentence.

Criticism was directed at Ayala amidst her firm stand to not impose the capital punishment on Loyd.

John Minda, Orlando’s Police Chief, voiced his disappointment and shared that he tried to convince Ayala to revert her statement, but he failed. The situation, he said, is upsetting. He reiterated that the families of the victims deserve the justice and that it will only be achieved when Markeith Loyd is justly prosecuted.

Some said that Ayala’s action is a part of some political agenda. They demanded her resignation, uttering that activists have no space at the State’s Attorney Office.

Ayala defended her stand and reiterated that there is no evidence to show that capital punishment will improve and recover safety for both law enforcement and the general public. The method, she said, will cost the state loads of money, as well as affect the convict’s family in an extreme and dragging way.