Indiana police officer, 28, who was shot days before she was supposed to get married during a drug traffic stop is taken off life support
- Officer Seara Burton, 28, was taken off life support on Thursday and is still fighting for her life as of Saturday morning
- She was shot in the head on August 10 while she and her K9 Brev and her unit were called to 200 block of North 12th Street for a drug-related traffic stop
- Lee was stopped at a garage where police believed a drug deal was taking place and he started firing several times when the dog indicated narcotics were there
- Lee was charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and drug charges
- He is being held on a $1.5billion bond and sustained injuries from the shoot out
An Indiana police officer who was shot days before her wedding has been taken off life support.
Officer Seara Burton, 28, was taken off life support on Thursday and is still fighting for her life as of Saturday morning, according to Richmond Police Department.
‘Despite the very best efforts of all the doctors and nurses at Miami Valley Hospital, Officer Seara Burton’s injuries have been determined to be unrecoverable,’ the police department wrote.
‘Seara will live on and continue to be a hero with her selfless gift of organ donation.’
Burton was just nine days out from her wedding to Sierra Neal when she was shot in the head by Phillip Lee, 47, during a drug-related traffic stop on August 10.
Burton – who is Richmond’s first female K-9 Officer – and her unit was called out to the 200 block of North 12th Street after Richmond Police Narcotics Unit saw Lee stop at a garage where authorities believed a drug deal was taking place.
Around 6.30pm, Burton and her K9 Brev conducted an open-air sniff test on Lee and the moped he was driving, according to WTHR.
The dog reportedly indicated at narcotics were present and then Lee pulled out a gun while talking to officers, firing multiple times and hitting Burton.
Officer Seara Burton, 28, was taken off life support on Thursday and is still fighting for her life as of Saturday morning, according to Richmond Police Department
Burton (pictured with Brev) is the first female K-9 Officer for the department
Phillip Lee, 47, was stopped by the Richmond Narcotics Unit on August 10 when Brev did an open-air sniff test and Lee pulled out a gun and fired several times, striking Burton in the head. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges
Lee then fled on foot and officers fired at him and hit him, Fox 19 reported.
Burton, a four-year veteran of the force, was rushed to a hospital before being airlifted to Dayton.
Lee was also taken to the hospital and appeared in court in August 19 from his hospital bed – the same day Burton was supposed to get married. ‘
A day later, Burton’s fiancée posted a video to TikTok showing her walking through the hospital in her wedding dress into Burton’s room, where she laid in her bed.
‘This walk was supposed to look a lot different, but I will always be thankful we still got to celebrate. Even if it is not legal on paper, you are my wife,’ Neal wrote on the social media app.
On Thursday, law enforcement and hospital staff gathered for an honor walk as the officer was rolled out of her room with a flag placed over her body as she was wheeling into the operating room to become an organ donor.
Burton was supposed to get married to Sierra Neal (pictured in the wedding dress) on August 19. Neal walked through the hospital that day in her wedding dress to see Burton
They were only nine days from their wedding when Burton was shot
Brev led the way as sadden officers silently paid their respects.
Brev is now being taken care of by one of the department’s investigators, who used to be a K9 handler.
Lee was charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and drug charges.
He pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $1.5million bond.