VPD identifies murder victim

Published 4:40 pm Sunday, January 21, 2018

The Vicksburg Police Department is investigating an apparent homicide.

VPD Sgt. Johnnie Edwards said the body of 28 year-old Eddie James Burns was found in a grassy area between Bonelli Street and the railroad tracks around 3 p.m. Sunday.

“It appears he sustained two gun shot wounds to the head,” Edwards said.

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Burns was reported missing around 2 p.m. Sunday after family members told police he left home around 9 a.m. Saturday and hadn’t returned home, which family members said was unusual.

Edwards said family members and officers began looking for him in an area of town which he generally hung out and located him.

Edwards said VPD is early in the investigation, but it appeared some belongings of the victim had been taken so the motive “may have been robbery.”

He added VPD does have a person of interest but no one is in custody.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the police department’s number at 601-636-2511 or Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).