COLUMBUS, Ind., May 13 (UPI) — Police in Columbus, Ind., say they are “working around the clock” to find those responsible for a quadruple homicide that happened in the city over the weekend.
The victims — Katherine Burton, 53, Thomas W. Smith, 39, Aaron Cross, 41, and Shawn Burton, 41, all of whom were fatally shot — were discovered by Daniel Burton, the 27-year-old son of Katherine Burton, shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday, the Indianapolis Star reported. Shawn and Katherine Burton are not related.
“We’ve been working around the clock,” Sheriff Mark Gorbett said in a brief statement Sunday afternoon. “We will continue to do so until we can bring those responsible to justice.”
Police have not given any details on the investigation, but neighbors suspect the motive for the slayings to be drug-related.
Stevie Furkin, the half brother of victim Shawn Burton, lives next-door to where the homicide occurred and said that his half brother had struggled with addiction and was known for cooking meth.
“It might have been planned, might not have. I wouldn’t have no idea,” Furkin, 55, said, adding that he doesn’t think there will be more victims: “They’re all dead.”
Other neighbors say they were shocked by the incident.
“It’s almost unthinkable,” said Kathy Carroll, 57, who has lived in the neighborhood for six years. “You hear it on the news. But when it touches near home, it gives a different atmosphere to it.”
Mark Fugate, 60, whose sister-in-law lives near where the shootings took place, agreed with Carroll.
“It’s such a small place, you know?” Fugate said Sunday. “Nothing ever goes on here. But it did last night.”
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