Indiana Man Who Killed Three While Fleeing Police at 140 MPH Receives Light Sentence, Sparking Outrage
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — A 21-year-old man who caused a high-speed crash that killed three people while fleeing police at 140 mph has been handed what victims’ families and police unions are calling a “slap on the hand.”
Luis Leyba-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to nine felony counts stemming from the Sept. 26, 2023 crash that claimed the lives of 14-year-old Christian Leyba-Gonzalez, 32-year-old Jose Gonzalez Jr., and 21-year-old Makayla Hankins, who was driving the car struck by Leyba-Gonzalez’s Dodge Challenger.
Judge Reduces Charges, Imposes Minimal Prison Time
According to court records and reports from the Indianapolis Star, Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison dismissed six of the original twelve felony counts and sentenced Leyba-Gonzalez only for three counts of resisting law enforcement resulting in death.
Prosecutors sought a 25-year prison term, while the defense asked for a three-year sentence. In the end, the judge sentenced him to nine years total, with just two years to be served behind bars — and the remainder on probation and community corrections.
The decision has sparked widespread backlash, with family members of the victims and law enforcement calling the outcome “deeply unjust.”
Fatal High-Speed Chase
On the night of Sept. 26, 2023, state troopers attempted to pull over Leyba-Gonzalez, who was driving his Dodge Challenger with his younger brother and cousin inside.
Instead of stopping, he sped off, reaching speeds of up to 140 mph before troopers ended the pursuit for safety reasons.
Moments later, Leyba-Gonzalez ran a red light at 100 mph, slamming into a car driven by Makayla Hankins. She had been married just two weeks earlier.
Both Christian and Jose Gonzalez died at the scene. Hankins was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after.
“My first words were, ‘Is that all he got for killing three people?’” said Hankins’ grandmother, who raised her after her mother’s death. “That’s not justice. That’s a slap on the hand.”
Community and Police Condemn “Miscarriage of Justice”
The Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police issued a public statement condemning the sentence, calling it a “miscarriage of justice.”
“Time and again, police leaders have raised red flags about the disproportionate incidents of low bonds, lenient sentences, and lackluster performance within the Marion County Criminal Justice System,” the organization said.
They noted that Judge Harrison had previously set Leyba-Gonzalez’s cash bond at just $1,000 following the crash — a decision the FOP said reflected a pattern of judicial leniency.
“Cops are calling for backup for victims and their families,” the statement continued. “There must be equal protection under the law for the accused and the accosted.”
Families Left Without Closure
The victims’ families have described the court’s decision as heartbreaking, saying it minimizes the devastating loss of three lives.
Makayla Hankins, who was described by loved ones as kind and full of life, had been celebrating her recent marriage before her death. Her grandmother said the family feels “betrayed by the justice system.”
As public outrage continues to grow, community members and police advocates are calling for sentencing reforms to ensure that violent offenders face appropriate consequences.
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