INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man accused of killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath in 2020 on Friday night was found guilty but mentally ill in her death.

Elliahs Dorsey was convicted of a lesser charge than the original murder count: reckless homicide. It means the jury did not believe Dorsey knowingly or intentionally killed Leath but instead acted recklessly when he shot her through the door of his apartment.

The jury also found Dorsey guilty but mentally ill at the time of the offense on four counts of criminal recklessness and and a count of criminal confinement. The criminal recklessness counts had originally been filed as attempted murder charges.

Dorsey was accused of the fatal shooting of Leath, 25, while she and other officers responded to a domestic dispute just after 2:45 p.m. April 9, 2020, in the 1800 block of Edinburge Square. That’s in an apartment complex located southeast of the I-70 interchange with I-465.

Opening statements on Feb. 12 had centered around Dorsey’s mental state during the shooting.

Dorsey’s defense attorneys had told jurors that his mental health deteriorated following a breakup with a longtime girlfriend. They said that he woke up the morning of the shooting convinced that his family was dead and that there was a plot to kill him as well, and that, when officers knocked on the door of the apartment, he believed they were assassins’ there to kill him.

Defense attorneys had intended to prove that Dorsey was innocent by reason of insanity.

The prosecution had told jurors that Dorsey was not insane at the time of the shooting and that he had a history of marijuana use. Prosecutors said that Dorsey knew and appreciated the wrongfulness of what he was doing during the shooting.

Prosecutors wanted the jury to rule Dorsey guilty but mentally ill.

The prosecution originally had sought the death penalty in the case, but that possibility is no longer an option after Dorsey underwent psychiatric evaluations.

Moments after hearing the verdict, Leath’s mother embraced one of the prosecuting attorneys in the courtroom before going out into the hallway to pray with family and friends. The jury’s 14 hours of deliberation, split up over two days, was a rollercoaster for the Leath family.

Jennifer Leath described her feelings after the verdict. “Agony, especially when we got sent home last night and the word ‘mistrial’ got brought up. That was really hard.”

About the jury’s decision to convict on lesser charges, Jennifer Leath said, “I will take that over a mistrial, or his insanity defense. I will take it because he is going to prison.”

While tearful in her relief at the verdict, Leath’s mom was not celebrating, though.

“This is not a win for anybody. We are all suffering. They have lost him and we have desperately lost her,” Jennifer Leath said, adding she wants the community to keep her family in their thoughts.

“Please continue to pray for us because now we really start healing, but we’re grateful. We’re so grateful that she got some sort of justice.”

Judge Mark D. Stoner was expected next week to announced a sentencing date for Dorsey.

Statements

“Our community, our police department, and most importantly Officer Breann Leath’s family and friends have waited almost four years for justice in her murder.

“We are disappointed that the defendant was not found guilty of murder, but guilty of a lesser charge. The jury’s findings of guilty, but mentally ill will ensure he is held accountable for his actions. This verdict does not diminish the pain and sorrow we all feel since Breann was taken from us. We must also remember Ms. Brown, her courage, and all that she has endured, in 2020 and since.

“In our country, we should hold the judicial process in high regard. We want to thank the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and service. We look forward to the opportunity for the court to hear from Breann’s family at sentencing and for the judge to impose a sentence fitting of his crimes.

“It is also important to recognize the Leath family for the strength and grace they have shown throughout this process. Our community must continue to wrap their arms around them, and never forget Breann’s courage, compassion, love of people and sacrifice.

“We would not have gotten to this point without the dedicated work of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the detectives assigned to investigate this case, and Breann’s colleagues who testified and relived the day of her murder throughout this trial.

“Our thoughts remain with Breann’s son, Zayn and we hope he feels the love and support of the IMPD and community. Officer Leath will always be the epitome of a true hero, and we should strive to “Be like Bre,” every day while keeping her legacy alive.”

Chief Chris Bailey of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

“We want to thank the Leath Family for their dignity and grace throughout an unimaginably difficult time. Officer Leath was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, friend, and colleague. Officer Leath devoted her life to service and fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a police officer. Her compassion was unmatched and the impact she had on our community, particularly the youth, will live on.”

Marion County Prosecutor’s Office

“Officer Breann Leath was a shining light who represented the best of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and her murder was a loss for our entire community. I hope this verdict brings some sense of peace and closure to her family, her young son, and the men and women who serve our city.”

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, a Democrat

Previous coverage

• Judge sends Dorsey jurors home; deliberations to resume Friday afternoon
• Doctors’ testimony continues in trial of man accused of murdering police officer
• Doctors testify about mental state of man accused of murder of police officer
• Accused man’s family testifies at his trial for murder of Indianapolis police officer
• Police testify at trial for suspect in murder of Officer Breann Leath
• Murder trial begins for man accused of killing IMPD officer Breann Leath

Mental health resources

• Be Well Indiana
• Indiana Suicide Prevention
• Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255
• More resources