Officer Seara Burton, 28, a four-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, was mortally wounded while on duty during a traffic stop on August 10, 2022. The stop involved a moped and Burton’s K-9 partner Brev, who indicated a possible presence of narcotics. Phillip Matthew Lee, 47, allegedly pulled a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Burton in the head.

Burton was flown to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and remained critically ill for several weeks. She was scheduled to be married nine days after the shooting. Her injuries were later judged unrecoverable, she was removed from life support, and she died on September 18, 2022, surrounded by family.

Lee was apprehended after a brief foot chase in which he exchanged gunfire with officers and was wounded. He had a lengthy criminal history and was initially charged with attempted murder and related drug and firearm offenses; after Burton’s death the charges were amended to include murder and prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty. Lee was later found unresponsive in his cell on June 6, 2024, and pronounced deceased; authorities said no foul play was suspected.

If anyone witnessed the traffic stop or has information about the shooting, please come forward.