A “nonprofit leader” for at-risk youth who spent 7 years in prison for home invasions attacked a state trooper, stole his patrol car, and was shot dead after threatening, “Next time you touch me, you gonna die.”
At a Glance
- DeShawn Leeth crashed his vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike, then attacked the responding state trooper while repeatedly yelling “in the name of Jesus”
- Leeth was unfazed by a Taser, knocked the officer down, and stole his patrol car before fleeing into Pennsylvania
- After crashing again in Pennsylvania, Leeth was fatally shot when he attacked pursuing officers
- Despite being the executive director of a nonprofit for at-risk children, Leeth had served seven years in prison for multiple home invasions
Violent Confrontation Caught on Bodycam
The stunning bodycam footage released last week reveals exactly what happens when law enforcement confronts individuals who have absolutely zero respect for authority or law and order. DeShawn Leeth, who had already crashed his vehicle in a single-car rollover on the Ohio Turnpike near the Pennsylvania border on April 4th, wasn’t content with one disaster for the day. When an Ohio State Patrol trooper arrived to help what he thought was a stranded motorist, Leeth decided the appropriate response was to launch into a violent attack on the officer who was simply doing his job.
As the trooper approached, Leeth repeatedly shouted “in the name of Jesus” – because nothing says “following religious teachings” quite like assaulting a public servant. The bodycam footage shows the trooper attempting to subdue Leeth with a Taser after the situation escalated, but like many perpetrators amped up on who-knows-what, the electrical shock had about as much effect as a gentle breeze. Instead of complying, Leeth began throwing punches, eventually knocking the officer to the ground.
Threats and Theft Escalate the Situation
During the altercation, Leeth made his intentions crystal clear when he threatened the officer, saying, “You’re gonna get hurt. Next time you touch me, you gonna die.” Because nothing de-escalates a situation with law enforcement quite like death threats. Leeth also informed the trooper, “I’m stronger than you” – apparently deciding that his physical capabilities gave him the right to assault a law enforcement officer. This is exactly the kind of “might makes right” mentality that civilized society has spent centuries trying to overcome.
“You’re gonna get hurt, Next time you touch me, you gonna die.” – DeShawn Leeth
After knocking the officer to the ground, Leeth didn’t just flee on foot as many suspects might. No, he decided to upgrade his criminal resume by stealing the patrol vehicle itself and leading authorities on a high-speed chase across state lines into Pennsylvania. It’s almost as if he was checking off boxes on a “how to ensure maximum criminal charges” bingo card. The officer fortunately sustained only minor injuries, but the situation was far from over as Leeth sped away in a stolen police cruiser full of weapons and equipment.
Fatal Conclusion in Pennsylvania
Predictably, Leeth’s joyride in the stolen patrol car didn’t last long. After crossing into Pennsylvania, he crashed the vehicle, but apparently hadn’t quite filled his quota of bad decisions for the day. When Pennsylvania State Police officers caught up to him, Leeth reportedly attacked them as well, resulting in officers opening fire. This proved to be his final poor choice, as he was fatally shot during the confrontation. The entire sequence of events from initial crash to fatal shooting spanned just a few hours but showcased a complete disregard for law, order, and personal safety.
“I’m stronger than you” – DeShawn Leeth
Perhaps the most ironic twist in this tale of violence and lawlessness is Leeth’s background. He was reportedly the executive director of Under-Dawg-Nation, a nonprofit organization for at-risk children. Let that sink in for a moment – a man who was supposed to be guiding troubled youth away from crime was himself unable to control his violent impulses or respect law enforcement. Even more telling was his criminal history, which included a seven-year prison sentence for multiple home invasion charges stemming from incidents in 2012 and 2016. He had only been released in early 2023.
The Revolving Door of Criminal Justice
This incident perfectly illustrates the failure of our criminal justice system’s revolving door policies. A violent offender with multiple home invasions on his record was released back into society, given responsibility over vulnerable at-risk youth, and within a year was back to violent behavior that ultimately cost him his life. Instead of being rehabilitated, Leeth escalated from home invasion to attacking law enforcement and stealing police vehicles. If that’s what counts as rehabilitation in today’s system, perhaps it’s time we seriously reconsider our approach to violent offenders and the naive ideology that puts dangerous individuals back on our streets.
