Justin Burns, Former Cal State Fullerton Hoops Star, Arrested in Ex-Girlfriend's Murder

By Matt Coker Fri., Mar. 18 2011 at 3:43 PM

Justin Burns

Yesterday, Gustavo brought the sad tale of Bobby Joyce, a former Santa Ana High School basketball star and University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) Running Rebel arrested for allegedly robbing a Vietnam War vet confined to a wheelchair.

Now comes word that another young Orange County hoops standout has been arrested--for murder.

Justin Burns, who at least one scout pegged as the top prospect on the Cal State Fullerton Titans in 2006-07, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, Wednesday on suspicion of killing a West Covina woman in Las Vegas last November.

Michele Carson

Burns, 27, had been a suspect ever since the nude body of 25-year-old Michele Carson was found by target shooters in the Nevada desert under a stack of blackened rocks, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

One of those who found her said part of the woman's arm was sticking out from the pile, which appeared to have been set on fire with a flammable liquid such as gasoline. Her fingertips were missing, and her right arm and some of her hair were badly burned.

According to police and her family, Carson had an on- and off-again relationship with Burns since both attended Cal State Fullerton. He left school shortly before graduation, returned briefly to try to get his degree, and then ultimately dropped out for good, reports the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, which characterized Burns as nearly homeless at the time of his arrest.

He and Carson, a 2008 criminal-justice graduate, had tried to rekindle the romance sometime before she and a companion went to Las Vegas to visit friends. The companion returned after about a week, but Carson remained, changing hotels at least three times before she went missing, according to the Trib.

Burns was arrested after a search warrant was served at the home of a family member in Mississippi, say police, who declined to state what evidence led them to their suspect.

CSUF

Burns as a Titan

Nicknamed "Spiderman" (but not to be confused with UC Irvine's Darren "Spider-Man" Moore), Burns attended Central Park Christian prep school in Birmingham, Alabama, and Cypress College before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, where he played from 2004 to 2007. Michael "Spider" Burns, Justin's father, played basketball for UNLV.

Though small for a center at 6-foot-5, Justin Burns could "jump out of the gym," Titans athletic director Brian Quinn tells the Trib.

"It is so unlike his personality," Burns' coach Bob Burton also told the daily. "He was a really bright kid, fun to coach, did a great job for us. I was always disappointed he didn't graduate."

Later, he added:

"He was never a violent person. People really liked him. This is really depressing news for me."

"Burns is one of the most likeable guys to ever play at Fullerton," reads Scout.com's 2006-07 preview. "You root for Justin Burns. I hope he has the senior year that he wants out of himself. He is the only proven commodity out of this bunch."

At the time of the Trib report, Burns was awaiting extradition to Las Vegas, where he was expected to be held without bail while awaiting trial for his ex-sweetheart's murder.

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sancho781

What an infuriating story. I am one of the target shooters that found her and am disgusted that the articles centers on how great a ball player he was, how sad it is for him and even how small he was for his position. Not about how he brutally murdered and burned his ex-girlfriend or what type of a person she was or how sad it was for her family. This publication is twisted and disgusting and should be ashamed of itself. Sick!!!

Trishabonilla

It shouldn't be about color! He murdered this bright beautiful innocent girl! An on judgement day he will be judged! I never met this girl! But I knew her mother an boy was she loved! Her life wasn't his to take! May u rest in peace gorgeous!

Black and Educated

Wow. . . And I bet you people who are saying all these bad things about black people, if you were out in the open and not behind a computer monitor, would say that you are not racist. 50% of all murders are black. Where that come from Fox news. If you read the statistic correctly you would see that half of all murder VICTIMS are black. . . There is a difference. Just call it what it is, a terrible event. Because there are articles about meth addicts, mostly white, who kill babies and mothers and grand parents as well. No racial group is perfect, so please stop acting like one is better than the other.

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Franklin Jones

Mudsharks, learn a lesson from this. Blacks are 13% of the US population and commit over 50% of all murders. They also carry 50% of AIDS.

Ryan

I am half black and you would think I would be "offended" or blame "the [White] Man" because "he oppresses us" for these seeming "inequities" in life. But facts are facts, and, unfortunately, you (Mr. Jones) are absolutely correct. Blacks are all out of disproportion in their population in the level of crime to their numbers; AIDS has the distinction of being a "gay disease" (no disrespect to any gays out there, by the way), but truth be told, numbers wise, it is a BLACK disease.

Some Blacks may call me an "Uncle Tom" or whatever for having these sentiments.

Whatever.

Better a live and law abiding "Uncle Tom" than a victim of Black-on(half)black crime, and the "Down Low" promiscuous bisexual/homosexual black subculture (this is more prominent than you would think, folks) that is a certain harbinger of not only AIDS, but syphillis, herpes, gonorrhea, etc. etc.

Chuckmoorecsuf73

Not sure where you murder stats can be verified....we can verify 13% of population, but not 50% of all murders. Are you basing on arrests or convictions cause neither shows the true story; how many folks are never arrested or convicted for this same crime? See Amos N. Wilson's works....

Bob_Realist

Finally the media speaks the truth about the feral beast! Al? Jesse? Quantell? Are you listening? Did this Veteran "ask for it"? Did this young human lady "ask for it"? There must be a link to UNLV genes is what they, the LSM, will say but the link goes back to when this country was wrecked by bringing animals here.