INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath.
Elliahs Dorsey, 27, is accused of fatally shooting Leath on April 9, 2020, while she and three other officers responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Edinburgh Square.
When a fellow officer knocked on the door of the third-floor apartment, Dorsey allegedly opened fire through the door, striking Leath twice in the head and hitting another woman in the apartment.
Leath died from her injuries, while the other woman survived.
Dorsey told police he thought someone was attempting to get to him, so he fired his gun when he heard a knock on the door.
According to court documents, the aggravating circumstance for seeking the death penalty is Leath "was acting in the course of her duty as a law enforcement officer."
Dorsey is charged with murder, criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, battery and four counts of attempted murder.
It will be Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears' first death penalty case since he took office in 2019.
IMPD released a statement Tuesday that said, "While many will focus on the person accused of this crime, the attention this announcement brings is an opportunity to again reflect on all that Officer Breann Leath gave to her community in her all-too-short time with us."
Read the full statement from IMPD below:
While many will focus on the person accused of this crime, the attention this announcement brings is an opportunity to again reflect on all that Officer Breann Leath gave to her community in her all-too-short time with us. It is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices her family made and the loss they will forever feel so that people they will never meet could be safer.
While many will focus on the person accused of this crime, the attention this announcement brings is an opportunity to again reflect on all that Officer Breann Leath gave to her community in her all-too-short time with us. It is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices her family made and the loss they will forever feel so that people they will never meet could be safer.
Officer Leath demonstrated what it means to be a dedicated public servant, and set an example that we all strive to live up to every day. She was committed to her community and giving back. She was committed to helping victims of domestic violence. She was committed to running towards danger when others would run away. She was committed to helping her fellow man, woman, and child.
Officer Breann Leath will always represent the spirit of IMPD and will always be remembered.
