In the early morning hours of June 7, 2017, in the quiet community of Lakeshore, Mississippi, 68-year-old Clifford Burke was towing his boat, likely anticipating a day out on the water. His plans were tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in what initially appeared to be a robbery. The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. at the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Pleasant Street.
Before succumbing to his injuries, Burke was able to flag down a passerby for help and provide a crucial piece of information: he had been robbed.
The investigation into the death of the male victim took a turn when authorities learned of the assailant's deceptive tactics. Burke described his attacker's vehicle as a white Crown Victoria equipped with a strobe light in the front grill, giving it the appearance of an unmarked police car. This led investigators to believe the perpetrator was impersonating a police officer to pull over his victims.
The description of the vehicle proved to be the key to solving the case. Hancock County sheriff's deputies spotted a car matching the description in a casino parking lot and arrested Christopher Neely May, a 40-year-old man from New Orleans. Inside the vehicle, they discovered the weapon used in the murder.
During legal proceedings, the true motive behind the senseless act of violence was revealed. May, who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, had been kicked out of a casino earlier that morning. In his intoxicated state, he decided he wanted to go fishing and pulled Burke over. An argument ensued, escalating to the fatal shooting and beating of Burke, who sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and abdomen.
In September 2019, Christopher Neely May pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He expressed remorse for his actions, attributing them to his substance abuse. The judge, calling the crime an 'inexcusable act driven by cocaine and alcohol,' sentenced May to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The victim's family, still grappling with their loss, spoke of the profound and lasting pain May's actions had caused.
