Nakika Burston, a 41-year-old male from Cleveland, OH, was shot and killed on December 4, 2016. The incident occurred on East 43rd Street early in the morning. Cleveland police arrived at the scene and rendered first aid to Burston until EMS transported him to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. According to police reports, 40-year-old Jermaine Burkes came to Burston's home over a drug dispute and shot him.
Burkes was arrested shortly after the incident.
The case was investigated by the Cleveland Homicide Unit and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office. Burkes was indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and having weapons while under disability. On August 21, 2017, a jury found Burkes guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to 30 years to life for aggravated murder, plus three years for the firearm specification, and an additional 36 months for having weapons while under disability, to be served concurrently. The aggregate sentence amounted to 33 years in prison.
The incident remains a notable case in Cleveland's history of crime, and the legal proceedings against Burkes were closely followed by the community and media.
