Formal charges filed against man accused of murdering IMPD officer
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Formal charges have been filed against a man accused of murdering an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer.
Elliahs Dorsey, 27, faces seven charges in the case:
- Murder
- Attempted murder (four counts)
- Criminal confinement
- Battery resulting in bodily injury
Dorsey is accused in the shooting death of IMPD Officer Breann Leath on April 9. He also faces three attempted murder charges against other IMPD officers, as well as a woman who was in the apartment.
“The women and men of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office grieve with the community and will always remember Officer Leath’s exemplary service and sacrifice,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement.
According to court documents, IMPD officers responded to the 1800 block of Edinburge Square for a domestic disturbance. After officers knocked on the door, multiple shots were fired through the door, striking and killing Leath.
The woman inside the apartment, identified in court documents as “A.B.,” had also been shot multiple times. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
According to court documents, Dorsey told investigators he had smoked marijuana earlier that morning and “felt off today and like someone was trying to kill him.” Documents state Dorsey “stated when he heard the tap at the door he thought someone was coming to get him. He didn’t look to see who it was.”
The woman then ran down the stairs, Dorsey saw the police, then he shot the woman, according to documents. He said he then saw the officer by the door and realized “what he had done,” according to documents.
He then put his gun down, put his hands up and got on his knees.
Documents also reference a 911 call where Dorsey took the phone from the woman, asks the police not to kill him and stated “that he just threw the rest of his life away.”
The woman in the case told investigators that Dorsey “began acting strange, making comments about people or her trying to kill him or get him” on April 9, according to court documents. She says she had called 911 in an attempt to get officers sent to the apartment. She said she heard two knocks on the door, Dorsey said “that ain’t the police” and then he started firing, according to documents. The woman was shot multiple times as she tried to run away.
After an initial court appearance via video on Tuesday morning, Dorsey continued to be held in the Marion County jail without bond. No attorney is listed online for Dorsey. His next court appearance, to discuss the status of his counsel, was set for May 6. A jury trial was set for Aug. 17.
Leath’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday.
- Docs: Suspect in IMPD officer’s fatal shooting thought woman in apartment ‘was trying to set him up’
- Funeral arrangements announced for slain IMPD Officer Breann Leath
- Fallen Officer Breann Leath’s car on display outside IMPD East District
- IMPD officer makes video honoring slain Officer Breann Leath
Below is the statement from Prosecutor Ryan Mears. App users can access it here.
