Trending Now - Florida Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Police Officer

WHO:

Billy Leon Kearse, 53, convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.

Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish, the victim.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed death warrants.

WHAT:

Kearse is scheduled to be executed via a three-drug lethal injection.

The execution is set to begin at 6 p.m. on March 3, 2026.

Kearse was initially sentenced to death in 1991 and resentenced in 1997.

This execution will be Florida's third in 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025.

The Florida Supreme Court denied Kearse's appeals regarding his trial and intellectual disability.

WHERE:

Florida State Prison, near Starke, Florida.

Incident occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida.

WHEN:

Traffic stop incident occurred in January 1991.

Kearse was sentenced to death in 1991 and resentenced in 1997.

Execution scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Two additional executions scheduled in Florida: Michael Lee King on March 17, 2026, and James Aren Duckett on March 31, 2026.

WHY:

Kearse fatally shot Officer Parrish during a traffic stop after wrestling away the officer's service weapon.

HOW:

Kearse fired 14 shots, striking Parrish nine times and hitting his body armor four times.

A nearby taxi driver used Parrish’s radio to call for help after hearing the gunfire.

Police identified Kearse using license plate information provided by Parrish before the struggle.

Billy Leon Kearse, who was convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm for fatally shooting Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop, is scheduled to be executed today at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison. This marks Florida's third execution in 2026, following a record 19 executions last year, and the Florida Supreme Court has denied Kearse's appeals regarding his trial and claims of intellectual disability. Kearse was initially sentenced to death in 1991 and resentenced in 1997, and he will be followed by two more executions later this month.