An Indianapolis man who tore through city streets at speeds reaching 140 mph while fleeing police has been sentenced to nine years, a term that has drawn sharp criticism from victims’ families and local law enforcement.
The September 2023 Crash
Luis Leyba-Gonzalez, now 21, was driving a Dodge Challenger in September 2023 when officers attempted to stop him. Instead of pulling over, he accelerated through red lights at speeds approaching 100 mph with two passengers in the car: his 14-year-old brother and his 32-year-old cousin. The resulting deadly wreck killed both passengers as well as Makayla Hankins, a newlywed driving another vehicle involved in the crash.
Crash Stacks Kia on Top of Ford Mustang
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Prosecutors initially filed 12 felony charges against Leyba-Gonzalez, including reckless homicide and driving under the influence. Under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to nine counts, and Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison ultimately sentenced him on three counts of resisting law enforcement causing death.
Of the nine-year sentence, Leyba-Gonzalez is expected to serve approximately two years in custody, with the remainder to be served on probation and community service. Prosecutors had sought a 25-year sentence, while the defense had argued for three years.
Backlash From Law Enforcement and Families
The Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police publicly criticized the sentence, calling it a miscarriage of justice. Victims’ families have echoed that frustration, arguing that the outcome fails to reflect the severity of a crash that claimed three lives, including a minor.
A Case That Raises Broader Questions
The case has become a point of contention over how the justice system weighs plea agreements and sentencing discretion in fatal police pursuit cases, leaving grieving families to question whether the outcome delivered meaningful accountability.