US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Florida sets up a third execution in 2026 as state leads US death penalty surge
Billy Leon Kearse is set for lethal injection March 3, marking Florida's third 2026 execution as the state aims to address decades-old death sentences, officials said.
- On March 3, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Billy Leon Kearse, 53, scheduling lethal injection at Florida State Prison; Kearse is Florida's third execution of 2026.
- His 2025 execution pace exceeded prior Florida records since 1976, with Gov. Ron DeSantis saying it's to bring justice to victims' families who waited decades.
- Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish pulled over Billy Leon Kearse, 53 for driving the wrong way, and prosecutors say Kearse grabbed Parrish's sidearm and fired 14 times, hitting him multiple times before Parrish died.
- Attorneys for Kearse plan appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court, as Florida uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol, with Kearse's execution scheduled for March 3.
- Forty-Seven people were executed in the United States in 2025, the highest total since 2009, with Florida leading the surge through a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
Florida sets up a third execution in 2026 as state leads U.S. death penalty surge
A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop is set to be Florida’s third execution of 2026, keeping the state on pace to match or possibly exceed last year’s record 19 executions.
·Canada
Read Full Article
Florida sets up third execution in 2026 as state leads U.S. death penalty surge
A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop is set to be Florida’s third execution of 2026. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant Thursday for 53-year-old Billy Leon Kearse. He is scheduled to die by lethal injection March 3 at Florida State Prison. DeSantis, a Republican, oversaw more executions…
·Miami, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Left
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
58% Left
L 58%
C 42%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
