Man who fatally shot a police officer in 1991 is executed in Florida
Florida Executes Man Convicted of 1991 Police Officer Shooting
Starke, Florida — On Tuesday evening, Billy Leon Kearse, 53, was put to death by lethal injection at the state prison near Starke, marking the third execution in Florida this year. This follows a record-breaking 19 death sentences carried out in 2025, the highest number since the practice began. Kearse was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m., shortly after the administration of a three-drug cocktail. His case revolves around the 1991 fatal shooting of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish.
Final Words and Observers
Before the execution, Kearse was given the opportunity to speak. He expressed remorse, stating,
“To his family, I sincerely apologize for what I’ve done. There is no way I can ever repay that.”
The ceremony drew more than a dozen family members and law enforcement officials who watched as the process unfolded. Kearse exhibited a brief convulsion after the drugs took effect but ceased movement minutes later. A medic confirmed his death 15 minutes post-injection.
Shooting and Legal Proceedings
Court documents reveal that Parrish had stopped Kearse for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in January 1991. When Kearse failed to present a valid driver’s license, Parrish instructed him to exit the vehicle and was subsequently attacked. During the scuffle, Kearse seized Parrish’s weapon and fired 14 rounds, inflicting nine wounds on the officer and four on his body armor. A nearby taxi driver alerted emergency services via the officer’s radio, but Parrish succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Conviction and Appeals
Kearse was initially found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in 1991, receiving the death penalty. However, the Florida Supreme Court later ruled that the trial court had not provided jurors with critical information about aggravating factors, prompting a retrial. In 1997, Kearse was again sentenced to death. This year’s execution count in Florida has surpassed the prior highs of eight in 1984 and 2014, with Gov. Ron DeSantis overseeing a surge in death warrants.
Execution Trends and Upcoming Cases
As of 2025, a total of 47 individuals were executed nationwide, with Florida leading the state with 19. This year, three executions have already taken place, while Texas and Oklahoma each accounted for one. Two more are set for Florida in 2026, including Michael Lee King for the 2008 murder of a mother and James Duckett for the 1987 killing of an 11-year-old girl. All executions in the state are conducted via lethal injection, utilizing sedatives, paralytics, and a cardiac-stopping agent.
Hours prior to the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Kearse’s last appeal without explanation. The Florida Supreme Court had previously rejected his petitions, leaving no further legal recourse. The Associated Press reported the details of the case and its recent developments.
