In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Norcross, Georgia, the life of 43-year-old Vernie Burroughs was tragically cut short. On February 21, 2016, gunshots echoed through the parking lot of the Indian Trail Apartment Homes. When police arrived at the scene on Indian Trail Lilburn Road, they discovered Burroughs' body. Investigators believe he was a resident of the apartment complex. Emergency services were alerted by several 911 calls reporting the sound of approximately six gunshots.
For a time, the investigation yielded few leads, with authorities reporting no direct witnesses to the shooting. However, in early March of 2016, the Gwinnett County Police Department publicly identified a suspect in the fatal shooting. Winston Sylvester, then 31 years old, was named as the man wanted in connection with Burroughs' death. Law enforcement issued warrants for his arrest on serious charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Authorities also noted that Sylvester had ties to the Atlanta area and should be considered armed and dangerous. A reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
The case remained open for several years, but a significant development occurred in late 2022. On December 15, 2022, Winston Sylvester was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. The charges listed in his booking information were felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, directly corresponding to the warrants issued in the death of Vernie Burroughs.
