Gaffney Killer Dies in Police Shootout

A recently paroled convict with a criminal record more than 25 pages long has been killed by police searching for a serial killer who terrorized Gaffney, South Carolina. Patrick Tracy Burris, 41, died in a shootout with police in North Carolina about 30 miles from where he shot and killed five people over a six-day period last week.

Ballistic evidence from guns found on Burris matched evidence collected in the Gaffney cases, police said.

Gaston County, North Carolina police responded to a burglary report around 2:45 a.m. Monday when they found Burris with a man and a woman in a Dallas Spencer Mountain Road home. Police questioned Burris and he gave them a false name.

Burris Fired at Police

When police realized that there was a warrant out for Burris in another county, they started back into the house to arrest him. He opened fire on the police, hitting one of them in the leg. Two other policemen returned fire, killing Burris.

The wounded policeman was treated and released from a local hospital.

Investigators said Burris was a career criminal with a long rap sheet who was paroled two months ago. Authorities were trying to figure out why he was released.

Long Criminal Record

"Folks look at this. This is like 25 pages," said State Law Enforcement Division Director Reggie Lloyd, holding up Burris' printed criminal record. "At some point, the criminal justice system is going to need to explain why this individual is out on the streets."

Burris had a record that included crimes such as armed robbery, common law robbery, weapons violation, forgeries, multiple instances of breaking and entering, and possession of stolen goods.

At the North Carolina scene, police found the Ford Explorer that Burris used in some of the Gaffney killings parked under a shed. Lloyd said the vehicle matched "unique characteristics" that witnesses described, further linking Burris to the series of shootings.

'Got What He Deserved'

Lloyd said the investigation would continue until police put all the pieces together. They want to try to determine why Burris decided to target the Gaffney area, killing five people in six days.

Kline Cash, a 63-year-old peach farmer was the first victim on June 27. Four days later, 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter, 50-year-old Gena Linder Parker, were found bound and shot in Linder's home. The following day, Stephen Tyler and his 15-year-old daughter Abby were found shot in their family's furniture store.

Sam Howell, a 61-year-old Gaffney farmer, traveled to North Carolina to the police press conference, along with dozens of his neighbors.

"My prayers were answered. He got what he deserved," Howell said. "He scared the hell out of everyone. I guess we can feel better but we've lost some of our innocence."

See Also:
Slain SC Serial Killing Suspect Had Long Rap Sheet
Serial Shooter Killed In NC
Suspected S.C. Serial Killer Shot to Death in N.C.

Earlier Article:
Serial Killer Has South Carolina Community on Alert

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^{Photo: Mug Shot}