Roll of Honor
James Scott Burns
Incident
Trooper James Burns was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit in Marion County, Texas, at approximately 8:00 pm.
The suspect stopped his vehicle, exited, and opened fire on Trooper Burns with a shotgun before he was even able to unlatch his seatbelt.
A citizen used Trooper Burns' radio to inform dispatchers that he had been shot near the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1969 and Farm-to-Market Road 729. The suspect fled the scene and committed suicide two days later.
Trooper Burns had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, 6-month-old daughter, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-FBC37053- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Burns gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Burns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper James Scott Burns is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 35 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Scott Burns's cause is highlighted.
How James Scott Burns Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Scott Burns is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Scott Burns was killed by shotgun; 20 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
94 officers from Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
