Man found shot to death in front of East Side church identified

John Edward Burton, 19, discovered in 200 block of Upland Road

SAN ANTONIO – A 19-year-old man was shot and killed on the city's East Side late Monday night, one week after a string of shootings in the area.

John Edward Burton was found lying in the middle of the street around 11:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Upland Road in front of Eastwood Community Baptist Church.

Burton was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Officers found two types of shell casings but didn't find any witnesses, police said. 

Deacon Wallace Reed learned about the violence on the news Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened one week after gunfire erupted on the same street 13 blocks away, where a 20-year-old man was wounded in the leg.

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Reed said the shootings are a disturbing pattern.

"It's really starting to bother the neighbors," he said.

The shooting last week was among seven that occurred in 72 hours.

Police Chief William McManus said in a news conference then that if he had the solution to the violence, he would have fixed it a long time ago.

Reed agrees with McManus, saying residents need to get involved.

"No parts of the city wants to see violence. Here on the East Side, we seem to have a lot more lately," Reed said. "There has to be more dialogue within the community and the police, you know, to solve the problem. He (McManus) can't solve it by himself, unless other people are speaking up."

Reed called his sister-in-law, Linda Roberts, to check on the church after he learned about the shooting.

The building wasn't damaged, but Roberts said what needs repairing is the violence.

"So we're praying that they will find a way," Roberts said. "Maybe more police officers on duty, more neighborhood (watches). I believe this is a neighborhood watch area, and we've had many a meetings here in this church, many organizations have come together here to talk about this."

"There has to be a solution. There has to be a solution," Reed said.


About the Authors:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.