Alleged SC Spree Killer, Patrick Burris, Shot Dead by Police

July 07, 2009

Police in North Carolina shot and killed 41-year-old career criminal Patrick Tracy Burris, a man whom they believe is the spree killer responsible for at least five murders in South Carolina in the past week.

According to authorities in Gaston County, N.C., the case began to unfold Monday morning, when police received a report about a suspicious vehicle parked at an abandoned house on Dallas-Spencer Mountain Road. When a patrol unit arrived on the scene, the officer approached the vehicle —a beige Ford Explorer — and asked the occupants to identify themselves. Inside the vehicle were Patrick Burris and Mark and Sharon Stamey, a brother and sister who explained that they grew up in the house that was still owned by their family. Satisfied with their explanation, the officer drove off, and the trio went inside the home.

Roughly ten minutes later, police knocked on the door and announced that they had an open warrant for Burris's arrest. At that point, Burris allegedly brandished a firearm and shot Officer J.K. Shaw. Burris was then shot and killed by return fire from officers on the scene.

"I just heard gunshots. I think maybe two or three gunshots went off in the house," Sharon Stamey said, according to a story on charlotteobserver.com.

As authorities secured the area, evidence found at the crime scene led them to suspect that Burris might have been involved in the South Carolina spree killings. While they attempted to connect the two cases, the Stameys were taken back to police headquarters for questioning. It was there that they allegedly told police they had been hanging out and partying with Burris since Thursday. They claimed they did not know him very well, and both denied any knowledge of the spree killings. The Stameys were eventually released, and police have not indicated whether they are facing charges.

A background check on Burris shows he had a rap sheet totaling 25 pages, including arrests for armed robbery, larceny, forgery and breaking and entering. He served nearly eight years behind bars in a North Carolina prison before earning parole in April.

The case unraveled further during a press conference yesterday evening when Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton announced at a press conference that Burris's gun was the same weapon that had been used to kill five residents in Gaffney, some 30 miles from the scene of the shootout.

"Through forensics, we were able to prove today that the weapon he shot the officer with was the same weapon all five of our victims were shot with," Blanton said.

Blanton also said that items found in Burris's possession place him at three of the spree killing crime scenes.

Investigators will now concentrate on tracking Burris's movements since the time of his release in an attempt to see whether he could be responsible for other unsolved murders.

"Now we have someone we can focus on," Blanton said. "We want to know where he's been."

State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd also spoke at yesterday's press conference, specifically about Burris's lengthy criminal history.

"At some point the criminal justice system is going to need to explain why this suspect was out on the street," Lloyd said.

It is interesting to note that Maurice Godwin, a criminal profiler who was interviewed by Investigation Discovery prior to yesterday's events, correctly predicted the final outcome of the case.

"Watch out for the murders to continue in another state," Godwin said. "It is likely that this killer will barricade himself in and have a stand-off with law enforcement."

So while we now know who, what, when and where, we still don't know the answer to the key question, and that is why? Unfortunately, because of Burris's death, that is one question we may never know the answer to.

History

The South Carolina spree killings began on June 27 with the murder of 63-year-old peach farmer Kline Cash and continued on July 1 with the shooting deaths of 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter, 50-year-old Gena Parker. The last known murders occurred the following day when 48-year-old Stephen Tyler and his daughter, 15-year-old Abby Tyler, were gunned down inside the Tyler Home Center near downtown Gaffney. Stephen died almost instantly; however, Abby managed to survive until July 4 when she finally succumbed to her injuries.

The five killings all occurred within 10 miles of one another and, according to Sheriff Bill Blanton, each victim was killed with the same gun. Multiple agencies were involved in the hunt, including profilers and agents from the FBI. Authorities had also implemented a special tip line and offered a reward of $20,000.

Some media outlets erroneously reported that a "serial killer" was responsible, but by definition the murders were spree killings.

Related Links:
Spree Killer Terrorizes Cherokee County, South Carolina

Photo Credits: Cherokee County Sheriff's Department

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Comments

[stephentan82]

My idea is revoke the gun possesion law. Make it difficult for people to obtain weapon, this kinda problem could be reduced. At the same time, please educate public more on Moral and Humanity. Killing is not fun.

[j stephen h]

broad narrative steve, without guns criminals have various other tools to kill and rob with. And if someone lacks humanity or morality...its not likely going to be taught. Burris killed in an area known to him, probably studied some before hand, and "why" he killed his victims is more than likely indications of criminal evolution...he was a second striker and knew this time if he went back it was for good...so he killed the witnesses. The endgame strategy the profiler mentioned was typical too, the man went into it ready and willing to die if it meant life behind bars. I sent several blogs to various sites pointing out the stupidity of labelling the man a serial, there wasnt enough cooling off between the crimes. he likely ALSO used alcohol at most if not all of the crime scenes, but the ligature to tie the women up he probably obtained on scene.