Town Exhales after Serial Killer Shot Dead

But Murders Leave South Carolina Residents Confused Over Killer's Motive

(AP)  People terrorized by a serial killer who shot five people to death in their small community were relieved after police said they killed the man responsible.

But with his death, an answer to why he launched the bloody spree remains unknown.

"I still want to know why he did it," said truck driver Matt Brown, 55, of Gaffney. "Why he killed so many innocent people. I guess we'll never know."

His wife, Gina, 53, clutched her husband's arm. "Thank God it's over," she said. "We spent a lot of sleepless nights wondering who was next."

Suspected killer Patrick Burris, 41, was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said. He was shot to death by officers investigating a burglary complaint at a home in Gastonia, North Carolina, 30 miles (48 kilometres) from where the killing spree started June 27.

Two people who were with Burris were taken into custody, then released, police said.

They were identified as Mark Stamey, 35, and his sister Sharon Stamey, 31. Police described them as transients who had a drug and criminal past.

Investigators said they had no idea why Burris did it.

"He was unpredictable. He was scary. He was weird," said Neil Dolan, deputy director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Ballistics tests showed Burris's gun matched the one that killed residents in and around Gaffney over six days last week, SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd said.

Burris had a long rap sheet filled with convictions for larceny, forgery and breaking and entering in states across the Southeast, including Florida, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. He had been paroled from a North Carolina prison in April after serving almost eight years.

"Look at this," Lloyd said, waving a stapled copy of Burris' criminal record. "This is like 25 pages. At some point the criminal justice system is going to need to explain why this suspect was out on the street."

Gaffney farmer Sam Howell, 61, was among dozens of people from Cherokee County at the news conference where authorities identified Burris.

"My prayers were answered. He got what he deserved," Howell said. "He scared the hell out of everyone. I guess we can feel better but we've lost some of our innocence."

People who normally kept their doors open and welcomed strangers stopped trusting their own neighbours.

Gina Brown said she spent many sleepless nights worried about her family's safety. She called the couple's four adult children, who still live in the area, every night to tell them she loved them and make sure they were safe.

"They thought I was crazy, but they understood," she said.

The mystery ended in Gastonia early Monday after Mike and Terri Valentine called police to report a suspicious sport utility vehicle in their neighbourhood.

The Valentines were on edge because the Gaffney serial killer was just a short drive away.

They watched two people who sometimes visit the neighbouring home get out of the vehicle, followed by a third man who matched the description of the killer: tall, heavyset, unshaven and wearing a baseball cap. The man appeared to be very drunk, Mike Valentine said.

When officers arrived and went inside, Terri Valentine said she heard someone yell "put it down" and heard a gunshot.

Then "bam, bam, bam, bam. Next thing I know, all of Gaston County was here," she said.

Gaston County police said the other two people were in custody, but did not indicate whether they were facing charges. The county is 50 miles (80 kilometres) west of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Gaffney killings happened in a 10-mile area over six days.

[presjfk]

WHY WAS THIS GUY OUT OF JAIL? Our system doesn't give a damn about the public's safety. The judge, the parole board, whoever let this guy out of jail should be front page news and yet we have heard nothing about who let him go.

This guy and countless others with rap sheets a mile long should be destroyed like rabid animals. But our stupid system let's them free to arm themselves and wage yet another war against innocents. The war is largely ignored by the media and by most people, except the victims. Then when lives have been lost, society has been irreparably damaged, these criminals and murderers are sometimes found in the midst of a crime spree, maybe mass killings behind them, and then if we are lucky these criminals are finally shot dead. What a stupid, unfair, idiotic system.

[fuzzyi]

Sigh,,,this is how the "great american empire" is going to collapse, from within, moral disintergration...

[gunownerdan]

It's a shame one of his victims couldn't stop him first.
People with rap sheets a mile long are let out of jail all the time.
It is our right and DUTY to protect ourselves from dangerous people!
Self Defense...
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[presjfk]

"Sigh,,,this is how the "great american empire" is going to collapse, from within, moral disintergration..."

There is no doubt we as a nation will be the cause of our own demise. No outside country need attack us, no terrorist need to scare us, in the end our stupid majority and corrupt government will bring the nation to extinction.

[gunownerdan]

It's a shame one of his victims couldn't stop him first.
People with rap sheets a mile long are let out of jail all the time.
It is our right and DUTY to protect ourselves from dangerous people!
Self Defense...
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[presjfk]

The only problem is that the average Joe with a gun is a moron. A moron with a gun might be able to defend himself but also get an innocent killed in the process.

Do you know how much damage and how far a .45 can do? A .45 can go through a lot of apartment walls before stopping- or go out the wall of a house and travel through the neighbors house and maybe several neighbors homes before it might hit someone. Or even a relatively tiny .22? A .22 bullet can travel a mile or more.

The better answer to everyone carrying a gun is to have a law enforcement and justice system that works! Out system is a joke.

[gunownerdan]

It's a shame one of his victims couldn't stop him first.
People with rap sheets a mile long are let out of jail all the time.
It is our right and DUTY to protect ourselves from dangerous people!
Self Defense...
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[babooph]

The prisons are filled with poor & middle class drug addicts[mandatory sentencing],[Rush & the like do not get the mandatory 30 years ,just a few months probation];violent criminals are let out to make more room for dopers.What a mess !

[gunownerdan]

That's why I support LEAP.cc(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition).

[TryTakingMyMoney]

Due to overcrowding this guy was released early in NC for a felony. In 2008 (24) were released early for 1st degree murder, (27) released in 2007 and (21) released in 2006. Sadly this is happening all over the country. Folks what does this tell you? It tells me we have a broke system in America and that you should have a gun by your side at all times regardless of what liberals think. Continue to support the 2nd amendment!

[bajajohn1]

Sounds like this was another disgruntled Republican congressman hellbent on revenge.

[excoachken]

Will you guys ever get the story straight? He was not a "Serial Killer," like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy. He was a "Spree Killer" like Eric Harris at Columbine. Do some research before you post inaccurate headlines like this.

[ritad7]

He looks Hispanic is he an illegal alien? Probably.

[bajajohn1]

Nope, you dope, he looks like a redneck.