PHOENIX – This week, Juan Carlos Burns, 20, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G Campbell to 34 years in prison. A federal jury had found Burns guilty of second degree murder and discharging a firearm causing death.

     On Sept. 25, 2017, at the Auk Mor 2 gas station located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Burns, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe, shot the victim one time in the back of the head with a 9 mm handgun. The victim died within minutes. Evidence showed that Burns shot the victim as a result of a derogatory comment made by the victim toward Burns.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Salt River Police Department and the Mesa Police Department and Crime Lab, to include the Safe Trails Task Force. The prosecution was handled by Thomas Simon and Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-00445-PHX-DGC 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-023_Burns

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.