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Indiana police officer to be taken off life support, will live on as hero, police say

An Indiana police officer hospitalized after being shot will be taken off life support Thursday after doctors said she could not recover.

An Indiana police officer fighting for her life after she was shot during a traffic stop will be taken off life support Thursday, authorities said. 

The Richmond Police Department said K-9 Officer Seara Burton, 28, will be taken off life support after doctors determined her injuries were "unrecoverable."

"Seara will live on and continue to be a hero with her selfless gift of organ donation," the department said in a Facebook post. "Officer Burton will continue to serve others long after her passing. Final arrangements for Officer Burton will be released in the coming days."

Burton, a four-year veteran of the department, was shot Aug. 10 while responding to help other officers with a traffic stop. The stop involved a moped being driven by 47-year-old Phillip M. Lee. 

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Burton’s K-9 partner Brev conducted an open-air sniff around a moped and indicated the possible presence of narcotics, police said. 

While officers spoke with Lee, he allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at officers.

After Burton was struck, police said the other officers returned fire. Lee fled the scene on foot, leading officers on a brief foot chase before getting caught. He was treated for gunshot wounds and taken to a hospital. 

Burton was airlifted to a hospital. At the time of the shooting, Burton had recently been elevated to the position of K-9 handler and was engaged to be married the next weekend.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

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