INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Elliahs Dorsey was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2020 homicide of Breann Leath, a patrol officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Judge Stoner sentenced Dorsey to time served for the reckless homicide of Leath and for shooting at the other officers in the hall.

Stoner sentenced Dorsey to 25 years for the attempted murder of Aisha Brown, followed by 15 years of probation where Dorsey is required to have mental health treatment. If Dorsey doesn’t follow the treatment, he will end up serving a total of 40 years.

It was an emotional day at the Marion County Courthouse both during and after the sentence was handed down by Judge Stoner.

“It’s an absolute disgrace and miscarriage of justice,” Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder said. “The decision made by this judge today was to sentence this violent offender to time served for the death of a police officer. That time served was the equivalent to a little over 5 years.”

“Of course we’re upset,” Breann Leath’s mom Jennifer Leath said. “The judge basically not really open season on officers, but he basically said you can assault officers, or anybody for that matter and you can just be you can claim some kind of depression or mental illness and walk away scot free. I am not happy about it.”

During the sentencing hearing, friends and family of Officer Leath tearfully called on Judge Stoner to hand down the maximum sentence. They said that Dorsey had not shown any remorse for what he had done and he acted without any regard for his actions when he opened fire through the closed door of an apartment on April 9, 2020.

Right before sentencing, Elliahs Dorsey spoke in court for the very first time.

“There’s not enough sorrys that I can say to anybody here in this courtroom for both Breann family, Aisha’s family,” Dorsey said. “I just want to let you know that my heart breaks for you every day. The state tries to pin me to be a monster. I think it’s evident that I’m not.”

“Judge Stoner, I ask you and I beg you for your mercy,” begged Dorsey.

In some ways, Dorsey got his wish from Judge Stoner. The state asked for a sentence of 63 years, but Stoner sentenced him to 25 years, followed by 15 years of probation.

In February, a jury 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.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett provided News 8 with the following statement:

“As a former federal prosecutor and as an officer of the court, I acknowledge and respect our system of justice and the decisions that are made by our judicial officials. However, as the Mayor of the City of Indianapolis, as the chief elected official to whom IMPD directly reports, as a father, and as a member of this community, I am shocked and terribly disappointed in the decision of the court today.

In this moment, Indianapolis once again mourns the loss of a model police officer and young mom taken cruelly from the city that she loved so much she sought to protect it. As a community, let us take this moment to reaffirm our commitment to uplifting Officer Breann Leath’s young son, her family, and the men and women who served alongside her at IMPD, and to holding accountable anyone who threatens our city’s peace.”

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey provided News 8 with the following statement:

“As the Police Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, I respect the judicial process however, this sentencing decision fails to deliver the justice that Officer Leath, her son, and her family deserve.  

On a personal level, as a father, and a career police officer, I am deeply disappointed in the sentence handed down by the judge this afternoon. This man killed a young mother and police officer, robbing Officer Leath of her life and all the potential she had. He also attempted to kill other officers and Ms. Brown. Nothing less than the full sentence under the law for his violent and senseless actions is acceptable. 

Today’s sentence only makes the grief felt by Officer Leath’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Indianapolis community much worse.  

To Tom and Jennifer, your enduring strength and resilience in the face of such profound loss continue to inspire us all. Our support for you and Zayn does not end here. In fact, it grows stronger with each passing day. We and our community will continue to wrap our arms around you, while never forgetting Bre’s courage, compassion, and sacrifice. 

As we reflect on Officer Leath’s legacy of service, let us all honor her memory by upholding the values she lived by – integrity, bravery, compassion, and courage. 

We would like to thank the community, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the detectives assigned to investigate this case, our public safety partners, and all the officers who endured the pain and trauma of the trial and sentencing hearing. 

Officer Leath will always be in our minds and our hearts. She is the epitome of a true hero, and I challenge you to “Be like Bre,” every day.”

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