Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for a man convicted in the tragic 1991 slaying of a police officer in our neighboring community of Fort Pierce. This decision marks the continuation of a rapid series of scheduled executions in Florida following a record-breaking number of capital punishments carried out by the state last year.
Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on March 3, 2026. Kearse was convicted for the murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop more than three decades ago.
The incident remains a somber chapter in the history of law enforcement on the Treasure Coast. On January 18, 1991, Officer Parrish initiated a stop after observing Kearse driving the wrong way on a one-way street. According to filings from Attorney General James Uthmeier, the situation escalated violently when Kearse could not produce a license and provided false names.
Kearse could not produce a driver’s license and gave Officer Parrish several aliases. Officer Parrish ordered Kearse out of the car and as he attempted to handcuff Kearse, a scuffle ensued. Kearse grabbed Officer Parrish’s gun and fired 14 shots. Thirteen of the shots struck Officer Parrish, nine in his body and four in his bullet-proof vest.
A taxi driver in the vicinity witnessed a vehicle fleeing the scene and utilized the officer’s radio to call for help. Officer Parrish was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
This warrant is part of a broader trend of increased activity regarding the death penalty in Florida. In 2025, the state set a modern-era record with 19 executions, surpassing the previous high of eight recorded in both 1984 and 2014.
In addition to the warrant for Kearse, Governor DeSantis has signed warrants for two other inmates to be executed in February:
As is standard procedure following the signing of a death warrant, defense attorneys for Kearse are expected to file legal appeals in an attempt to halt the execution. However, unless the courts intervene, the sentence for the murder of Officer Parrish will be carried out early next month.
