PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Marquis Burney, the ex-boyfriend of a woman shot and killed in South Philadelphia hours after filing a protection from abuse order, faces charges in her murder. Investigators are looking into another domestic violence incident that happened a month prior.
Sahmya Garcia filed a protection from abuse order from the Criminal Justice Center’s overnight court early Tuesday morning, then went to the 3rd Police District.
“The police attempted to serve that on Mr. Burney. They were not able to,” said District Attorney’s Homicide Unit Supervisor Joanne Pescatore.
“Mr. Burney encountered the victim on Broad Street when she was on her way to work at Target.”
Garcia was shot 10 times near the corner of Broad and Ellsworth streets. At one point, sources say Burney, 41, stood over his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend and seemingly continued to fire into her lifeless body.
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A pair of SEPTA Police officers heard the shots, authorities say, and chased Burney blocks away — shooting him twice when they say he pointed a gun at them.
He remains stable at the hospital, shot in the shoulder and leg.
“He possessed a ghost gun. A ghost gun was recovered from his car during a search warrant,” said Pescatore. She said there has been a grave increase in ghost guns in Philadelphia.
Pescatore said Burney has a lengthy criminal record, including making terroristic threats, assault and gun charges, as well as protection from abuse order violations. As a felon, he cannot legally possess a firearm.
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Detectives are looking into another matter involving Burney and the victim from October, but they would not get into specifics of what happened.
Officials reiterate to any survivor of domestic violence that help is available.
“Follow through. Get help. Call the police,” said Pescatore. “We will relocate you. We will help you.”
Survivors of domestic violence can call 911 for help, or go to any police district. There’s also a city-based domestic violence hotline at 866-723-3014, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.