Arrest Made In Murder Of Auburn Student

Charges Include Capital Murder, Kidnapping, Robbery And Attempted Rape

(AP)  A suspected robber was arrested and charged with capital murder in the abduction and shooting death of an Auburn University student, police announced Saturday.

Courtney Lockhart, 23, was arrested in Phenix City on Friday after a car and foot chase, Auburn Assistant Police Chief Thomas Dawson said. He was charged in the killing of Lauren Burk, an 18-year-old freshman from Marietta, Ga.

Burk was found shot on the side of a road about 5 miles from campus Tuesday night. She died later a hospital. Her 2001 Honda Civic was found that night burning in a campus parking lot.

Lockhart was initially sought as a suspect in a string of robberies in Phenix City and Georgia. He was later charged with three capital counts accusing him of murder along with kidnapping, robbery and attempted rape, Dawson said.

Investigators don't believe Lockhart had any connection to Auburn University or that he knew Burk before abducting her.

"I don't believe he targeted her that long, if he targeted her at all," Dawson said.

Investigators have a photo of the suspect that was enhanced with the help of NASA, Dawson said. He said the photo matched Lockhart, but he declined to say how the photo was obtained or divulge other evidence linking Lockhart to the student's killing.

"We have the right individual in jail, I'm 100 percent sure of that," Dawson said.

Dawson said Lockhart, from rural Smiths in Russell County, tried to flee Phenix City police after being pulled over Friday.

"His car matched the description of a vehicle in a string of robberies," Dawson said. When an officer approached the car at the traffic stop, Lockhart drove off, Dawson said.

In a short pursuit, Lockhart's car broke down and he was captured by officers while trying to flee on foot, Dawson said.

Lockhart was being held Saturday in the Russell County Jail on $250,000 bond, Dawson said. He may still be charged with robberies, Dawson said.

Auburn University planned a campus-wide memorial service for Burk on Monday.

[gunsrevil]

Why is it that 90% of the post are for private gun ownership and ony you pathetic four are the only ones against self defense?



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Posted by gunnerv1 at 07:49 AM : Mar 11, 2008
+ report abuse

Hey!! There''s five of us.!!!

[bobnjersey]

[bobnjersey said "i''''''''ll have a chicken salad ... on rye ... untoasted ... w/ a side of potato salad ... and a cup of tea."

(Einstein) What the he....? Is bobnjersey a ***? ... (Freud) Probably!~ Or he''''s hungry!~ "LOL"]
[Posted by ElCantante1 at 09:15 AM : Mar 10, 2008]

hey ''gun-****-o'' ... i know my post didn''t have the word gun anywhere ... not even an indirect connection. that was deliberate ... to show again your oc ways. this would explain your inability to see it for what it is ... just like everything else you comment on.

try googling the following:

i''''ll have a chicken salad ... on rye ... untoasted

then go back and look at what I replied to ... it''s a puzzle ... and a gun has nothing to do with it ... which means you''ll still be clueless when all is said and done.

[bobnjersey]

[Do the opposite. ~]
[Posted by ElCantante1 at 05:51 PM : Mar 09, 2008]

i''ll have a chicken salad ... on rye ... untoasted ... w/ a side of potato salad ... and a cup of tea.

[nofearinlove]

Now he has to take accountability for his life. I hope he turns to the Lord for help on what he has to face in prison or even the death penalty!

[facts6]

"""Founding Fathers" and the other "Christians" were murdering blacks by the THOUSANDS""" I''m delighted you brought this up. Back in the 16th/17th century the English were harsh with the Irish. Then even before that the Romans were testy with the Anglos. I get up every morning thinking about that and live my entire life around that history. Oddly, the government does not pay for my every need nor send me to college full ride with no-fail grades. Also, once in every 50 or 100 years I hear about impoliteness (you know the horrifying not saying please and thank you, why does Dafur come to mind) in Africa.

You have been very silly to say the Founding Fathers murdered thousands of black. As you are obviously committed to meticulous research you know some of the FFs were from the North and there was no slavery there then and there is no racial bias, slums, crime, or disagreement now.

Go back to the doc, that plate in your skull needs an adjustment.

[slim1h2o]

Excuse the double posts,,,,,,,,

[slim1h2o]

I''m glad they caught the thug........... R.I.P..Lauren..If you can.

[keithle1]

Must be great to be a black man. You can do anything you want & then you can blame it on slavery & racism.

[aggiekat2004]

The suspect - Courtney Lockhart, 23 was arrested and charged with "Capital Murder, Kidnapping, Robbery And Attempted Rape".
Boy, if any crime warrants a speedy death execution whether by lethal injection or electric chair - this is it!
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Yeah, the problem is there is NO SUCH THING as a speedy death execution, and instead he''ll be put up someplace resembling the Hilton, complete with an education, cable TV, and recreational activities.

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will get involved, and all of a sudden this "poor kid" will have everyone on his side because he''s "disenfranchised."

BS. FRY HIM.

[striderman1]

Gee, cusefanjapan, perhaps you''d care to enlighten us as to just when the "Founding Fathers" or any other American was "murdering blacks by the THOUSANDS."