Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Young
Daniel Burns Jr
Summary of Offense:
Daniel Burns, Jr. was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Young during a traffic stop on August 18, 1987. Daniel Burns, Jr. and Samuel Williams were returning to Detroit from Ft. Myers when Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Young pulled them over on Interstate 75. According to Williams’ testimony, Trooper Young came up to the vehicle and asked for identification.
Trooper Young then returned to his patrol car where he radioed dispatch for a wanted persons search and a registration check on Burns’ Michigan tag. Trooper Young next asked Burns if he could search the vehicle, and Burns consented. Upon searching the trunk and finding what appeared to be cocaine, Trooper Young and Burns began to struggle. According to witness testimony, Burns and Trooper Young were fighting in a water-filled ditch when Burns grabbed Trooper Young’s gun and pointed it at him. Trooper Young threw his hands in front of his face as Burns fired one shot, which hit Trooper Young’s wedding ring and struck him in the head. Trooper Young was dead by the time additional troopers arrived at the scene. Medical examiners testified that the shot was fired at such a close range as to leave gunpowder on Trooper Young’s face. Burns fled on foot and was apprehended later that night. Williams testified that Burns was making several trips to Florida to in order to purchase $10,000 worth of cocaine.
Burns was re-sentenced to death in Manatee County on July 6, 1994.
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