On a summer evening in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 41-year-old Tracy Johnson was violently cut short. It was June 15, 2016, and Johnson, a Black male, was sitting in a car in a driveway with another man, Damond Dawson. The seemingly ordinary moment turned tragic when five men approached the vehicle with the intent to commit a robbery. The situation quickly escalated, and both Johnson and Dawson were fatally shot.
The investigation into the double homicide led police to Kevin Burns.
It was discovered that Burns and four accomplices had planned the robbery and were armed when they confronted the two men. Following the murders, Burns fled to Chicago in an attempt to evade capture. His efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and he was arrested and charged with the murders of both Tracy Johnson and Damond Dawson.
Kevin Burns was subsequently tried and convicted on two counts of felony murder. For the killing of Tracy Johnson, he received a sentence of life in prison. For the murder of Damond Dawson, the court imposed the death penalty. During the legal proceedings, it was noted that Burns showed no remorse for his actions. The convictions and sentences were later upheld by the Tennessee Supreme Court, which affirmed the jury's findings and found the sentences to be proportionate to the severity of the crimes.
