Former Prescott Police Officer Brian Sutton was convicted of manslaughter in the 2024 shooting death of 34-year-old Daniel Leslie, an unarmed man who was shot outside his home during an attempted arrest.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, a Yavapai County grand jury indicted Sutton in May 2025 on one count of manslaughter. The case had been referred to Maricopa County prosecutors because the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office had a conflict of interest.
The shooting happened on June 8, 2024, after Prescott police returned to a residence to locate and arrest Leslie in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident from the previous day. According to ABC15 Arizona, body-camera footage showed Leslie in the carport area of the home and attempting to flee back inside when Sutton fired multiple shots. Police later determined Leslie was unarmed.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety investigated the shooting. KNAU Arizona Public Radio reported that DPS determined Leslie was unarmed and recommended charges. Leslie was taken to a hospital and later died at a Phoenix-area hospital.
Sutton was no longer employed by the City of Prescott after the indictment. The city said at the time that it respected the grand jury’s decision and thanked the agencies involved in the investigation.
On June 12, 2026, a jury found Sutton guilty of manslaughter. Arizona’s Family reported that jurors deliberated for about six hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. The conviction marked a rare criminal outcome in an on-duty police shooting case.
FOX 10 Phoenix reported that Sutton was taken into custody after the verdict and that sentencing was scheduled for August 3, 2026. KNAU reported that Sutton faces seven to 21 years in prison.
The Leslie family has also pursued a civil case against Sutton and the City of Prescott. The family previously filed a $20 million claim, alleging that the shooting was unjustified and violated Leslie’s rights.
This case is another example of why body-camera footage, independent investigations, and outside prosecution matter when police officers use deadly force. Daniel Leslie was unarmed, Sutton fired as Leslie moved toward the home, and a jury ultimately concluded that the shooting amounted to manslaughter.
