In a significant development, a former Prescott police officer has been charged with manslaughter following the fatal shooting of an unarmed man. This incident, which has drawn widespread attention, raises critical questions about police conduct and accountability.
Incident Overview
The Prescott Police Department was dispatched to arrest 34-year-old Daniel Leslie at his residence on June 8th, following allegations of domestic violence. During the encounter, body camera footage captured former officer Brian Sutton discharging his weapon three times as Leslie attempted to re-enter his home.
Though it’s uncertain how many of the shots hit Leslie, he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in the Phoenix area. An investigation conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed that Leslie was not armed at the time of the shooting.
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
Brian Sutton, aged 26, has since turned himself in to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. He no longer serves with the Prescott Police Department. The agency has refrained from releasing further comments due to the ongoing legal proceedings and a $20 million civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother.
To prevent any potential conflicts of interest, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution instead of the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.
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