INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears on Wednesday addressed criticism from the family of a slain Southport Police Department lieutenant.
On Monday, James Allan called the prosecutor's case "lackluster at best" after a judge said Jason Dane Brown would not face life without parole for the 2017 shooting death of Lt. Aaron Allan.
In an interview with WRTV's Rafael Sanchez, Mears said there was nothing else the prosecutor's office could have done differently in its case for life without parole.
Brown was found guilty of murder on Tuesday and faces 45-65 years in prison.
"The most important thing for us at that point was to be able to secure a guilty verdict in this case, which is what we were able to do," Mears said.
RELATED | Lt. Aaron Allan's dad: 'I'm angry as hell. My whole family is.' | Suspect found guilty in Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan's 2017 murder
Mears added that there are no new developments in the death penalty case against Eliahs Dorsey, who is accused of killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath on April 9, 2020.
"The average lifespan of a death penalty case is measured by years, not months," Mears said.
The prosecutor also said his office continues to make attempts at building trust in the community so more people will feel comfortable coming forward with information after a crime.
"We have to get more people to come forward with information so we can pursue justice for those individuals," Mears said. "There is not a shooting or a homicide that has occurred in Indianapolis where someone doesn’t know something that happened."
Watch the full interview with Mears in the video player.
-
The Excel Center gives adults a second chance at a high school diploma
The Excel Center is Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults. It helps students overcome adversity and earn their high school diploma later in life.
Local advocacy group trying to spark change following shift in policies
Recent federal and state policies are creating some uncertainty in local communities. Indivisible of Central Indiana is trying to spread awareness and spark change.
Greenlawn Cemetery's rich legacy buried along the White River
Greenlawn Cemetery, Indiana’s first public burial ground, holds a rich history of Black pioneers and soldiers. Researchers are uncovering stories and preserving the legacy of those buried there.
1 dead, 3 injured in crash involving multiple vehicles in downtown Indianapolis
One person died and three others were injured in a crash involving multiple vehicles in downtown Indianapolis near E McCarthy St. and Madison Ave. at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.
