This week, Juan Carlos Burns, 20, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G Campbell to 34 years in prison. A federal jury had found Burns guilty of second degree murder and discharging a firearm causing death.
On Sept. 25, 2017, at the Auk Mor 2 gas station located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Burns, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe, shot the victim one time in the back of the head with a 9 mm handgun. The victim died within minutes. Evidence showed that Burns shot the victim as a result of a derogatory comment made by the victim toward Burns.