In the late morning hours of a spring day in Sardis, Mississippi, a dispute between two men who knew each other reached a tragic and final conclusion. Robert Robertson Jr., a 24-year-old male member of the Mississippi National Guard, was at the Circle Z Gas Station when he was shot and killed on May 18, 2019. The Panola County Coroner confirmed his identity at the scene of the violent encounter.
Investigators from the Panola County Sheriff's Department quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. They learned that Robertson and the individual who shot him had an ongoing feud, though the specific nature of their disagreement was not immediately made public. The incident, which unfolded around noon at the gas station situated near the intersection of Highways 315 and 51, sent shockwaves through the community.
Following the shooting, the suspect was promptly detained by law enforcement. The Panola County Sheriff’s Department later identified the man arrested in connection with the fatal shooting as Mark Burton of Como, Mississippi. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in the death of Robert Robertson Jr. Following his arrest, Burton was expected to make his initial court appearance to face the charges.
