By admin 
PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — A jury has found a former police officer guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed man two years ago in Prescott.
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Brian Sutton, 27, a former Prescott police officer, was convicted Friday in the deadly shooting of 34-year-old Daniel Leslie.
The jury deliberated for about 6 hours before reaching a unanimous guilty verdict, according to Richard Lyons, the attorney representing Leslie’s family.
There were a lot of supporters in the courtroom for Sutton, who were shocked and devastated by the outcome.
While Lyons believes it is a difficult situation on both sides, he said Leslie was ultimately innocent.
“The Leslies lost a son, they lost a brother, and there’s no joy at all to be had,” he said.
On the morning of June 7, 2024, Prescott police responded to a home on Sycamore Drive after reports that Leslie had threatened his girlfriend and tried to break down the door of an RV where she was staying. Leslie ran away before officers arrived and was later spotted in a car, then fled again.
Two officers, including Sutton, returned to the neighborhood the next day to look for Leslie. As the other officer went around to the back of the house, Sutton spotted Leslie in the carport.
Body camera video shows Sutton trying to convince Leslie to come to him, but Leslie refuses and tells him to leave his property.
Sutton then points his handgun toward Leslie, ordering Leslie to step toward him.
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As Leslie begins running inside, Sutton opens fire.
“In this case, the body cam was so visibly a wrongful shot, an unconstitutional, unlawful killing,” Lyons said.
Leslie was wounded and found lying on the kitchen floor as other officers cleared the area. He was taken to an area hospital, then flown to Phoenix, where he later died.
The shooting was investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which determined later that year that Leslie was unarmed and recommended charges. Sutton was placed on administrative leave.
Sutton had only been on the job for six months at the time of the shooting.
“I think Prescott PD, and the sergeants, and decision makers who left him alone there should be ashamed of themselves because I think what they did had a significant part in the conviction,” Lyons said.
To avoid any conflict of interest in Yavapai County, the case was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review.
In May 2025, Sutton was charged with one felony count of manslaughter. Police at the time confirmed that he was no longer employed by the City of Prescott.
Sutton’s trial began on Monday, and lasted five days.
Sutton is set to be sentenced on Aug. 3 and he is facing seven to 21 years in prisoin.
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