An Indiana police officer dies more than a month after being shot in the head during a traffic stop in August.
Officer Seara Burton, 28, died on Sunday evening at Reid Health while surrounded by her family, according to the Richmond Police Department.
‘Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside Officer Seara Burton’s family, colleagues, loved ones and the Richmond community she so nobly served,’ Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb wrote in a statement.
‘Officer Burton dedicated four years and her life to the Richmond Police Department and lived the oath she took to serve and protect to the fullest.’
Burton was shot in the head by Phillip Lee, 47, during a drug-related traffic stop on the evening of August 10. She was set to be married nine days after to Sierra Neal.
The police department led a procession outside of the hospital on Monday with multiple cop cars preceding before and after Burton’s Hearse.
Locals, hospital staff, and officers lined up on the sidewalk to salute Burton during her final ride as her remains were returned to Dayton.
Officer Seara Burton, 28, died more than a month after being shot in the head during a traffic stop, according to Richmond Police Department
The police department led a procession outside of the hospital on Monday with multiple cop cars preceding before and after Burton’s Hearse
The public was invited for Barton’s last ride that occurred at 1 pm on Monday
Locals, officers, and hospital staff lined up outside of the hospital while Burton’s remains were transported to Dayton
The procession was led from I-75 North from Dayton and onto the I-70 West
Barton was set to be married to Sierra Neal on August 19 – only nine days after she was shot
The late police officer was called out to the 200 block of North 12th Street in August after Richmond Police Narcotics Unit saw Lee stop at a garage where they speculated a drug deal may be taking place.
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
Burton and her K9 Brev conducted an open-air sniff test of Lee and his vehicle. The K9 indicated narcotics were present, which prompted Lee to take out his gun and fire multiple times at Burton.
Lee then fled before being shot by officers. He was charged with attempted murder, felony possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine.
He is being held on a $1.5 million bond.
The police officer was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital but was taken off life support on September 1 after her injuries were ‘determined to be unrecoverable,’ according to the Richmond Police Department.
Hospital staff and officers gathered for an honor walk as Burton was rolled out of her room with a flag placed over her body.
Burton’s K9 led the procession as others lined up against the wall to pay their respects.
She was then transferred to a different facility where her organs were donated.
Hospital staff and officers gathered outside of Burton’s room in early September when she was taken off of life support. The procession was led by Burton’s K9
Burton was rolled out of her room with a flag placed over her body as she prepared to be taken to another facility to donate her organs
Burton’s loved ones followed behind her while wearing shirts that said ‘Burton Strong’
Burton was shot multiple times and was deemed ‘unrecoverable’ by hospital staff
Neal, Burton’s fiancé, posted a past video of the officer on Sunday while holding her hand.
The pair were set to be married on August 19 – but never made it down the isle as they imagined.
Instead, Neal dressed in her lacy wedding gown on August 20 and walked ‘down the isle’ – through the hospital hallway – and to Burton’s room. The song ‘Something in the Orange’ by Zach Brown played in the background.
‘This walk was supposed to look a lot different, but I will always be thankful we still got to celebrate,’ Neal wrote in the caption of a tear-jerking video.
‘Even if it is not legal on paper, you are my wife.’
The pair had been dating since August 2021, according to Neal’s Facebook.
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 with an unidentified companion
They were only nine days from their wedding when Burton was shot
About 310 motorcyclists and 75 Jeeps gathered on Sunday to honor Burton’s life in Indianapolis, Indiana.
‘It’s hard to not be emotional, it’s hard to not be moved,’ Peter George wrote on Facebook along with a video of the motorcyclist that included children passengers.
‘This is Richmond, this is Indiana, this is small town USA, where we say yes sir and yes ma’am – where we take care of each other, and where we stand with our first responders and thin blue line. We will never stop believing in them, or Seara. We will always support, encourage, honor, and defend our local heroes.’
The travelers rode out of American Legion Post 65 down to Fort Harrison.
Wayne and Union County law enforcement along with Richmond Police Department, help coordinate the journey.