Trucker Shoots Self Before Roadside Pot Bust

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #707)
Drug War Issues
2011 Drug War Killings

[Editor's Note: Drug War Chronicle is trying to track every death directly attributable to domestic drug law enforcement during the year. We can use your help. If you come across a news account of a killing or death related to drug law enforcement, please send us an email at [email protected].]

[image:1 align:right]A truck driver pulled over by a Texas state trooper apparently shot and killed himself before police found a load of marijuana in his truck's sleeper. The man, identified as Mason Burks of Springfield, Missouri, becomes the 42nd person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Burks was driving north on US Highway 59 near Lufkin when he was stopped for a commercial inspection by Trooper Mike McClain. US 59 begins on the Mexican border at Laredo, Texas.

When McClain stepped up to the truck window, he heard a gunshot. McClain retreated and called for back-up.

When backup arrived, police found Burks, 46, dead of a gunshot wound to the chest. Troopers then found 603 pounds of pot in the sleeper of the truck cab.

News Brief
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Comments

JGM (not verified)

Sorry for the Burks family,

I can only see the Department of Punishment spinning this story as how Drugs are dangerous and he knew what he was doing was wrong, But they are glad that that this "Shipment" did not make it's way onto our streets. And then they will most likily give some street price estimate $$ to make him look more like a "Drug Mule"

Instead of saying that Mr. Burks had Cannabis and knew the United States/Law Enforcements steep and out of control drug laws and penalities. 

So insead of being arrested, held in jail, losing his job, losing his truck, losing his way of making money, losing his CDL license, paying/posting Bonds/Bail, losing his house/home/family/freedom/sanity, Having a Felony Record following him where ever he goes for the rest of his life inpeading him from having another life after this, Having all of this in mind Mr Burks choose Suicide and took his own life.

After this the Cops will most likily go and chew on some Tobacco dip and drink some healthy Alcohol.

Thu, 11/03/2011 - 5:17pm Permalink
JGM (not verified)

Sorry for the Burks family,

I can only see the Department of Punishment spinning this story as how Drugs are dangerous and he knew what he was doing was wrong, But they are glad that that this "Shipment" did not make it's way onto our streets. And then they will most likily give some street price estimate $$ to make him look more like a "Drug Mule"

Instead of saying that Mr. Burks had Cannabis and knew the United States/Law Enforcements steep and out of control drug laws and penalities. 

So insead of being arrested, held in jail, losing his job, losing his truck, losing his way of making money, losing his CDL license, paying/posting Bonds/Bail, losing his house/home/family/freedom/sanity, Having a Felony Record following him where ever he goes for the rest of his life inpeading him from having another life after this, Having all of this in mind Mr Burks choose Suicide and took his own life.

After this the Cops will most likily go and chew on some Tobacco dip and drink some healthy Alcohol.

Thu, 11/03/2011 - 5:19pm Permalink
WaxingLunacy (not verified)

A person who smokes pot isn't any more harmful than that same person not smoking pot,

Gee, good thing that weed is off the street, and it only cost a life!
 

Fri, 11/04/2011 - 9:22pm Permalink

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