Serial Killer Caught; Who Is Patrick Tracy Burris?

Gaffney, SC—The man police have identified as the serial killer spent days “partying” in Gaston County while investigators searched for him. That’s according to the Charlotte Observer and NewsChannel 36, in Charlotte. Mark and Sharon Stamey told the television station they “partied” with him for several days after the murders. The couple said he was very secretive and they didn’t know a lot about him. The Starney’s said they started a partying binge on Thursday that lasted until Monday, when Burris was killed. The couple also said it never occurred to them that their new friend was the man wanted in Gaffney. Mark and Sharon Starney were questioned for hours and then released. Read the full story here.

The nine-day nightmare for Cherokee County is over. Investigators confirmed Monday evening that the man Gaston County NC officers shot to death in an early Monday morning gunfight was the killer they were looking for, a man identified as Patrick Tracy Burris. Burris is a man with a lengthy criminal record, and Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton said Burris committed crimes in many states and was wanted on numerous warrants. Blanton listed some of Burris’ criminal history which includes 2 counts of armed robbery, multiple traffic violations, a weapons violation and possession of stolen goods.  Blanton says the weapon Burris shot the Gaston officer with was the same as the one used on 5 victims recently shot in Cherokee County. SLED Director Reggie Lloyd’s anger was evident in Monday evening’s press conference. “We owe it to the victims to find out what happened with the justice system.“ Lloyd said. North Carolina had a probation warrant out on Burris.

Monday’s events that lead up to Burris being identified as the serial killer began about 3am Monday morning in Dallas, NC. That is where Burris was involved in a gunfight that wounded one officer, and killed Burris. The incident began as a burglary call to a residence on Dallas Spencer Mountain Road in Gaston County, west of Charlotte. Police say three officers responded to a call about a possible burglary and found three suspects inside the home. Police say they learned one suspect had an outstanding warrant in Lincoln County, but he pulled a gun and opened fire when they tried to serve him. That person turned out to be Burris. Officer J.K. Shaw was shot in the leg. Police returned fire, killing Burris. The other two suspects were arrested. The injured officer was treated at the hospital and released.

A description of Burris and the vehicle he was allegedly driving matched what was found in Gaston County, and that caused a parade of law enforcement officers from Cherokee and Spartanburg Counties, as well as SLED, to head to the scene. A ballistics test confirmed the link.