Blake A. Burton was 19 and a Columbus, Texas resident when he was fatally shot in the early morning hours of January 18, 2025. Officers responding to reports of gunfire in the 1100 block of Walnut Street found Burton with multiple gunshot wounds; he was taken to Columbus Community Hospital and later died of his injuries.

About two hours after the shooting, deputies stopped a vehicle they believed connected to the incident. Inside were 17-year-old Kristopher C. Avila of Eagle Lake, 21-year-old Gasaan Young-Johnson of Houston, and an unnamed juvenile. Avila and Young-Johnson were initially arrested on unrelated charges; subsequent investigation led the Columbus Police Department to charge all three passengers with murder. The Columbus Police Department is actively investigating and has asked anyone with information to come forward.

Does anyone have information about Blake’s final movements or who might have been at Walnut Street that night?