Published: April 30, 2008 08:29 pm         

DPS trooper shot, killed in East Texas

KELLYVILLE — A statewide search was under way Wednesday for a suspect in the overnight shooting death of a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in East Texas.

Killed in the 8 p.m. shooting Tuesday was Trooper James Scott Burns, 39, according to the DPS.

Authorities are searching for Brandon Wayne Robertson, 37, of Tyler, according to a DPS statement issued Wednesday.

DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said the shooting happened at the end of a chase about 8 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of FM 1969 and FM 729 just west of Kellyville in Marion County, near Lake O' The Pines.

A passer-by saw the wounded man and used Burns' radio to report that he had been shot.

A DPS statement describes Robertson as white with green eyes and red hair, 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing 250 pounds. Authorities are looking for a 1997 blue Dodge Intrepid with Texas license 039-LCG.

Before Tuesday, 82 DPS troopers had died in the line of duty. The last death came on March 14, 2007, when the patrol car of Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes was struck broadside by an 18-wheeler as he attempted to cross the highway to pursue a vehicle.

Kellyville is about 135 miles east of Dallas.