In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the life of Nikki Lee, a 54-year-old man known for his larger-than-life persona as a motorcycle showman, came to a tragic end on May 10, 2016. His death, which was officially ruled a suicide, occurred as U.S. Marshals were closing in to arrest him at an apartment in the city. Lee died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
At the time of his death, Lee was entangled in a significant federal fraud case in Milwaukee.
He was facing a 30-count indictment that included charges of fraud and lying during bankruptcy proceedings. The case against him had been subject to numerous delays due to appeals and Lee's frequent changes of legal representation, having had nine different attorneys throughout the proceedings. The charges stemmed from allegations that he had falsified a home-equity loan application in 2007, claiming a monthly income of $24,000. Further accusations included the purchase of five Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a trailer shortly before filing for bankruptcy in 2008.
During the bankruptcy proceedings, Lee was accused of failing to disclose a significant number of assets, including 13 motorcycles, two trailers, two boats, a motor home, and a car. He was also alleged to have falsely claimed the sale of his gun-dealing business, which specialized in fully automatic machine guns. As law enforcement prepared to execute the arrest warrant related to these charges, the situation at the Ann Arbor apartment escalated, culminating in Lee taking his own life.
Known to fans as the 'Burnout King,' Lee had a colorful career performing motorcycle stunts. He was recognized for holding records for the longest 'burnout,' a stunt involving spinning the rear wheel of a motorcycle until the tire disintegrates. Following his death, there was no further investigation into suspects or arrests concerning his passing, as the cause was determined to be suicide. The extensive collection of firearms owned by Lee, which included registered machine guns and a grenade launcher, was later auctioned off by the bankruptcy trustee in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
