Ava, Mo. – A Willow Springs man wanted for child molestation and rape was killed after firing on law enforcement in Douglas County Saturday night.
At roughly 2 p.m. on July 23, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were serving warrants at a residence in eastern Douglas County. One warrant was for an individual growing marijuana and the other was for Marvin Burke, age 54 of Willow Springs, who had warrants for child molestation and attempted rape.
According to Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase, the deputies arrived at the residence and Burke and another male subject were sitting outside. As the deputies approached, Burke stood and began to walk away. The deputies gave verbal commands for him to stop. As Burke fled, he turned and fired a gun at the deputies. The deputies returned fire, striking Burke multiple times.
Burke had been arrested for child molestation in 2011 in Douglas County and had spent seven years in prison. He had been found for multiple violent crimes beginning in the late 1980’s.
Sheriff Degase told Ozark Radio News about the incident:
