April 29, 2008
(Information made public by the DPS)
DPS Trooper shot and killed during a traffic stop.
Trooper James Scott Burns, 39, was shot and killed by a driver he had stopped near the intersection of FM 729 and FM 1969, northeast of Lake of the Pines. At approximately 7:57 pm. Marion County dispatchers received a call over the trooper's radio from a citizen stating that the trooper had been shot.
Trooper Burns joined DPS on March 1, 2003. After graduation from the DPS Recruit School, he was stationed in Linden until that office was closed. He then transferred to the Atlanta Highway Patrol office on April 1, 2004. He transferred to Jefferson on Sept. 1, 2006, and was stationed there when he died.
Before joining the DPS, Trooper Burns had worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was born in Longview and attended college at Tyler Junior College, Texarkana College and Ouachita Baptist University.
UPDATE: The suspect that was wanted in the shooting death of Tr. Burns, committed suicide as law enforcement was closing in on his location. His girlfriend is in custody as an accomplice.
He was the 83nd DPS trooper to die in the line of duty.
Trooper Burns is survived by his wife, Michaela and
Micah, his 5 month old daughter.
Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by:
REEDER-DAVIS-SCHINDLER FUNERAL HOME
202 N. MAIN ST.
LINDEN, TEXAS
903-756-5455
To make direct donations to the family, or if you would like to send any condolence letters or cards, you may go through the Texas Highay Patrol Association, Magazine and Museum.
We will collect the checks and letters for the Burns Family, and deliver them to on a weekly basis.
Please be sure to make your checks payble to:
Michaela Burns and Family
Mail to:
THPAMM
501 Oakland Ave.
Austin, TX 78703
(CONDOLENCE LETTERS CAN BE SENT TO SAME ADDRESS)
