William H Burton Jr, a 30-year-old male from Cleveland, OH, tragically passed away on January 30, 2015. Burton was shot and killed at Club Fly High on Cleveland's east side. Eyewitnesses identified Daverrick Lash as the shooter, who was later convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to life in prison. Lash's first chance for parole will be after 31 years.
The incident occurred in a crowded bar, and Lash had a history of bad blood with Burton.
During the trial, it was revealed that Lash spat on the wall just before shooting Burton, and his DNA was found on the wall where a spit stain had been swabbed by police on the night of the murder. The prosecutor described the act as cold-blooded and premeditated.
Club Fly High was closed by court order as a nuisance less than a month after Burton's murder, which was the second murder at the bar since 2013 and the latest in a string of violent incidents at the business. City officials later allowed the bar to reopen with restricted hours and added security precautions.
Burton is remembered fondly by his family and friends, who described him as a loving father and a cherished member of the community. He is survived by his mother, Freda Herring; father, William H. Burton Sr; sisters, Nicole, Latricia, and Angel; and children, Pharoah, Princeton, and Kaedyn.
