On a tragic Tuesday, the 2nd of May, 2023, the life of 36-year-old Jairiah Joseph Hamilton was violently cut short. A resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, Hamilton was at his job as a clerk at a Valero convenience store in Bossier City when an armed robbery turned deadly. The incident, which unfolded just before 10 in the morning at the gas station located off Interstate 20, would leave another man dead and two others wounded.
During the robbery attempt, shots were fired inside the store.
Jairiah Hamilton and a customer, 47-year-old Joshua Ryan Calk, were both fatally shot. As law enforcement officers arrived at the chaotic scene in response to a 911 call, the suspect, Cortrell Burks, emerged from the store and exchanged gunfire with them. In the shootout that ensued, a Bossier City police officer, Ken Gallon, and another customer, Wes Davis, were wounded.
Following the exchange of fire, Burks attempted to flee to a nearby motel. However, his escape was thwarted when a desk clerk at the motel locked the doors, allowing Bossier City police officers to apprehend him. The 50-year-old Burks was taken into custody and subsequently faced a litany of serious charges.
In connection with the violent events at the Valero gas station, Cortrell Burks has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Jairiah Hamilton and Joshua Ryan Calk. He also faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder and an additional charge of attempted second-degree murder, reflecting the injuries sustained by Officer Gallon and Wes Davis, as well as the exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. Furthermore, Burks is charged with two counts of armed robbery. The case against him is pending presentation to a Bossier Parish grand jury.
