Was shot in the line of duty on August 10, 2022
(RICHMOND, Ind.) – Saturday marks two years since Richmond Police Officer Seara Burton was shot in the line of duty.
Burton responded to a traffic stop where her K-9 partner indicated the presence of drugs.
That’s when 47-year-old Phillip M. Lee pulled out a gun and fired several shots striking Burton.
Seara, who was described as a warrior, fought for her life for more than a month before passing away at the age of 28 on September 18, 2022.
“Officer Burton was more than just a colleague—she was a friend, a protector, and a beacon of hope for our community. Her commitment to the safety and well-being of Richmond was unwavering, and her loss has left an indelible mark on all who knew her,” the Richmond Police Department said Saturday.
Burton was shot in the line of duty just weeks before she was supposed to get married to her soulmate, Sierra Neal.
While Seara was hospitalized at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, her fiance walked down the aisle to her hospital room. Watch that video by clicking here.
"This walk was supposed to look a lot different, but I will always be thankful we still got to celebrate. Even if it is not legal on paper, you are my wife," Neal posted on TikTok.
WATCH: A Southeast Indiana resident honored her friend Seara Burton during a softball game in Lawrenceburg in 2022.
The Richmond Police Department said on Saturday, “Two years later, the pain of her absence is still felt deeply, but so too is the strength and unity that her legacy inspires. Officer Burton embodied the very best of what it means to serve, and in her honor, we continue to uphold the values she held dear: courage, integrity, and selflessness.”
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