As emotions flared both inside and outside the Elm Street courthouse, a father who has already lost one son to murder on New Haven’s streets sought to “save” a second son — the accused killer of a 13-year-old boy.
The father is 58-year-old Michael Burruss. Several years ago someone pumped nine bullets into his son Will on Goffe Street and killed him. (Read about that here.)
Now another son is in trouble — allegedly from the other end of a gun.
That son, 18-year-old Science Burruss, was arraigned in state Superior Court Tuesday on a murder charge. Police said he took a sawed-off shotgun Sunday night, pointed it at the head of 13-year-old Marquell Banks, pulled the trigger at close range, and killed him. On purpose.
Paul Bass Photo
Patty and Michael Burruss leaving court Tuesday.
After the arraignment — at which Judge Bruce Thompson kept the suspect’s bail at $2 million — Burruss fought back tears as he left the courthouse.
“I’m trying to save my son,” he said.
His son told him he didn’t do the killing, Burruss said.
“If he did do it,” Burruss continued, “it’s an accident. He’s not a murderer. Everybody loves him.”
“Having a gun,” he said, “that was the whole problem.”
He said he didn’t know what his son was doing with the sawed-off shotgun Sunday. He said his son, who graduated from high school last spring, worked at Wal-Mart on Route 80. He had hopes of becoming a probation officer, said his dad, who named his son Science to emphasize the importance of brain power.
“In the streets, there’s so many guns. It’s like popcorn. It’s like getting a bicycle. A lot of times you play with it.”
Burruss said he had spoken with the dead teen’s mother. “Her son didn’t deserve that,” he said. “He was loveable, like my son was loveable.”
That was the only sign of an olive branch.
As Burruss spoke about how his son had just celebrated his 18th birthday, the slain teen’s sister, standing nearby, called out: “My little brother won’t be here to celebrate his birthday.” Burruss said he hopes the violence stops.
The sister had spoken moments earlier to the press. She addressed a comment to the suspect’s mother: “I pray my brother’s soul haunts your son to the day he fucking kills his self.” And she predicted violence will continue out of this incident.
Click on the play arrow at the top of this story to watch snippets of her comments and the father’s.
Before the arraignment, friends and relatives of both the suspect and the victim got into a heated shouting match outside the courthouse. Cops broke it up before it turned violent. A retinue of officers stayed on the steps after the proceedings to make sure there was no recurrence.
Science Burruss in court Tuesday with his public defender, Sanford Bruce. Prosecutor Brian Leslie is at far right.
During the arraignment, it was revealed that the suspect was on juvenile parole. His father said that was for stealing a car. The suspect, who wore a white T‑shirt, said nothing during the brief proceedings; the judge transferred his case to the courthouse up the block on Church Street, where his next appearance is on election day, Nov. 8.
Previous coverage of this case:
• Witnesses Heard: “I’m Gonna Kill Somebody”
• Teen’s Alleged Murderer Turns Himself In
According to local residents, it is easier to get a hold of a gun than a quart of milk in many of our neighborhoods.