Local Law Enforcement Affected by Trooper Killed in Northeast Texas

The shooting death of a trooper in the Northeast corner of the state is affecting the law enforcement community here in Southeast Texas.

While officers are mourning the trooper's death, they're also trying to find 37 year old Brandon Robertson. He is a former police officer, and investigators say he shot and killed D.P.S. Trooper James Scott Burns.

The 39 year old trooper was killed Tuesday night in Marion County, about 130 miles East of Dallas.

Trooper Burns is the 83rd D.P.S. officer to die in the line of duty since the agency was created.

D.P.S. officers in Southeast Texas say the killing is a tough blow for their department, no matter how far away it happened.

Trooper Stephanie Davis says the flag at the Beaumont D.P.S. office will fly at half staff until Trooper Burns is laid to rest.

Davis says Burns tried to pull over Robertson at about 8 p.m. Tuesday.  Robertson took off in his blue Dodge Intrepid and started firing at him.

The District Attorney in Marion County says four shots went through Burns' windshield and one into the hood of his car.

A man passing by used Burns' radio to report that the trooper had been shot.

A spokeswoman for the D.P.S. office in Beaumont says Robertson has previous law enforcement experience with police departments in Overton and Kilgore, as well as the Sheriff's Office in Rusk.

A tribute page has already been put into place for people to leave messages in honor of Burns and his service to the public.

"It affects us here because, number one, just the awareness. When we think we're on the regular routine traffic stop, nothing is regular and routine. So, that's what most impacts us here," says Trooper Stephanie Davis.

Funeral services have not been set for Trooper Burns.

He is survived by his wife and six month old daughter.