On an August evening in Richmond, Indiana, Officer Seara Burton, a 28-year-old female and a four-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, was critically wounded in the line of duty. On August 10, 2022, she was called to assist with a traffic stop involving a moped. Her K-9 partner, Brev, indicated the possible presence of narcotics. During the stop, the rider, identified as Phillip Matthew Lee, allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Burton in the head.
Officer Burton was flown to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, where she fought for her life for several weeks. She was scheduled to be married just nine days after the shooting. Despite the best efforts of her medical team, her injuries were determined to be unrecoverable, and she was removed from life support. After being transferred to a hospice facility, Seara Burton died on September 18, 2022, surrounded by her family.
Phillip Matthew Lee, 47, was apprehended after a brief foot chase following the shooting, during which he exchanged fire with other officers and was wounded. Lee had a lengthy criminal history dating back decades. He was initially charged with attempted murder and various drug and firearm offenses. Following Officer Burton's death, the charges were amended to include murder, and prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty.
While awaiting trial, which was scheduled to begin in early 2025, Phillip Lee was held at the Pendleton Correctional Facility. On June 6, 2024, he was found unresponsive in his cell and was pronounced deceased. An autopsy was pending, but authorities stated that no foul play was suspected. His attorney reported that Lee had been suffering from severe mental health issues.
