On a late morning in Anniston, Alabama, the sound of gunfire shattered the peace in the 4300 block of Skyline Drive. It was approximately 10:05 a.m. on June 22, 2023, and the events that unfolded would lead to the untimely death of 39-year-old Traveno L. Burnett, a Black male from Anniston. As officers rushed to the scene, they were informed that several vehicles were seen speeding away from the area.
Police intercepted one of these vehicles at the intersection of Noble Street and 21st
Street. Inside, they made a grim discovery; Traveno L. Burnett was deceased, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The initial 'shots fired' call had now turned into a homicide investigation.
In the days that followed, investigators with the Anniston Police Department worked to piece together the events that led to Burnett's death. Their efforts soon focused on two individuals. A warrant for murder was issued for 35-year-old Tanquilla LaShay Thomas, who was considered armed and dangerous. Authorities also announced they were seeking 36-year-old Thomas Tramaine Cunningham for questioning in connection with the case.
The search for the two suspects concluded when the Anniston Police Department confirmed that both Thomas and Cunningham had been located and taken into custody. A funeral service for Traveno Burnett was later held on July 1, 2023, at The Life City Church, as the community mourned his sudden and violent death.
