Billy Leon Kearse, convicted of fatally shooting Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop in January 1991, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday evening. The execution began shortly after 6 p.m., with Kearse being pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.
Key Takeaways
Billy Leon Kearse, convicted of fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop in 1991, was executed by lethal injection in Florida on Tuesday evening. This marks the third execution in Florida this year.
- Billy Leon Kearse, 53, was executed for the fatal shooting of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish in 1991.
- The execution took place at Florida State Prison near Starke using a three-drug injection method.
- Kearse apologized to the victim's family before his execution.
- This is Florida's third execution scheduled for 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025.
Kearse, 53, was condemned for the shooting death of Parrish, who was killed when Kearse wrestled away his service weapon and fired 14 shots. According to court records, nine bullets struck Parrish in the body, while four hit his body armor.
Before the execution, Kearse apologized to Parrish's family. "To his family, I sincerely apologize for what I've done," he said. "There is no way I can ever repay that."
The execution was witnessed by more than a dozen family members and police officers.
This marks Florida's third execution in 2026, following a record 19 executions in the previous year under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state led the nation with the most executions in 2025, outpacing Texas, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Kearse's execution was carried out using a three-drug injection method, which includes a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart. Two more executions have been scheduled for later this month in Florida.
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