On September 16, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred in East Lubbock, Texas, resulting in the death of 49-year-old Levone Ray Madden Jr. The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of Ivory Avenue, where officers responding to reports of gunfire found Madden and 63-year-old Martha Maden suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were transported to University Medical Center, where Madden succumbed to his injuries, while Maden sustained moderate injuries.
Investigations revealed that Madden had been socializing throughout the day with 67-year-old Phenix Burns Jr. An argument ensued between the two men, escalating into a shootout during which both individuals exchanged gunfire. Martha Maden was inadvertently struck during the crossfire. Burns left the scene but later arrived at the hospital via a private vehicle, receiving treatment for moderate injuries.
Following the incident, Burns was arrested and charged with tampering or fabricating evidence with intent to impair an investigation. He admitted to hiding both his and Madden's firearms behind a dumpster, expressing concern that others might use the weapons against him. Burns initially withheld the location of the firearms from investigators until after his release from the hospital, at which point he reported that the weapons had been stolen from their hiding place.
A Lubbock County grand jury later indicted Burns on the evidence tampering charge. As of the latest reports, no additional arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.
