East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

He is a former peace officer who had two encounters with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers during the month of April, one that ended in his arrest and the other in the death of a trooper.

Now, law enforcement officials in the region are searching for the man they say killed 39-year-old James Scott Burns, of Linden, during a high speed chase Tuesday night. Some officers told the Tyler Paper they fear that when the former officer — considered armed and extremely dangerous — is located, there will be a shootout because “he has nothing to lose.”

Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Jean Dark said they are seeking 37-year-old Tyler resident Brandon Wayne Robertson in connection with Burns’ death and that a capital murder warrant has been issued.

Burns, who was born in Longview and graduated from Tyler Junior College, was killed when he was shot several times in his patrol car. The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. by the intersection of Farm-to Market roads 1969 and 729 northeast of Lake 0’ The Pines near Kellyville.

Officials say Robertson ambushed the trooper, who was not even able to remove his seat belt as he stopped his patrol unit before he was shot multiple times with a shotgun.

A local citizen, who attempted to provide aid to the trooper, used Burns’ radio to call for help, but Burns would die at the scene.

Troopers developed the suspect’s name after talking to an incarcerated man who once owned the car involved in the incident.

Dark said officials are seeking information on the whereabouts of Robertson and the blue 1997 Dodge Intrepid bearing Texas license plate 039-LCG he was last seen driving.

Dark said Robertson was last known to have lived just north of Tyler in the Eagle Creek subdivision in a travel-trailer.

Records with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education show Robertson is a former lawman in Rusk County.

The TCLOSE records show Robertson worked for the Overton Police Department, the Kilgore Police Department and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.

The record indicates he last served as a peace officer in 1999 when he left the Overton department and shows he was a seven-year veteran officer who has been trained in police tactics.

Kilgore Police Capt. Randy Hancock said Robertson worked for the department only briefly and was allowed to voluntarily resign after poor job performance, which included wrecking three patrol cars.

After leaving law enforcement, Robertson turned to crime and did a stint in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system for narcotics before being paroled.

Officers across the area all said their thoughts are with Burns’ wife and 6-month-old child and they found Robertson’s acts cowardly.

“I believe the words I would use would be that I am appalled that he or anyone else could do what he did to another human being in the manner he did it. That trooper didn’t have a chance,” Hancock said.

The Gregg County Judicial Web site shows Robertson has been jailed for unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession and manufacture/delivery of controlled substance and theft.

But that wouldn’t be the last time he would be in trouble with the law.

Cherokee County Jail records show Robertson was arrested April 6 by DPS troopers and charged with felony three possession of a controlled substance.

He posted a $7,500 bond the very next day and remained low on the radar until Tuesday night’s shooting.

Now, every peace officer in the area is looking for a man many believe will not give up.

“I believe he is ... bent on self-destruction and will take anyone with him that he can. We hope that isn’t the case, because we don’t want anyone else hurt,” one officer said.

Officers continue to search an area near where the shooting occurred, but there have been no sightings.

Anyone with information about Robertson is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency immediately, and police warn not to confront the suspect.

CRIME SCENE: Police officers look over a Texas Department of Safety cruiser near Kellyville on Tuesday night, where a trooper was shot and killed while pursuing a vehicle.
((AP Photo By Less Hassell/Longview News-Journal))