February 16th, 2011
Luling man gets 25 years in San Marcos murder

STAFF REPORT

A 21-year-old Luling man pled guilty last week to the murder of a San Marcos man and will serve 25 years in prison as part of a plea deal, officials say.

James

Zackhary Allen James confessed that he shot Byron Burse multiple times in his Linda Lane apartment near midnight on Aug. 26, 2009, after his accomplice Quenten Rashad Taylor, 22, kicked the apartment door down, police say.

The shooting stemmed from an altercation between James and the victim, which occurred earlier in the evening at the apartment complex.

James’ plea deal denies him the right to appeal, Hays County Assistant District Attorney Fred Weber said.

The San Marcos Police Department also arrested Taylor, of San Marcos, who remains in Hays County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Taylor, who is also charged with murder, is set to go to a jury trial on March 21 at the 22nd District Court in San Marcos.

That night, police responded to the Kelsea’s Place Apartments at 518 Linda Drive after callers reported hearing gunshots in the complex. Burse, 30, was found in his apartment suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Central Texas Medical Center by San Marcos/Hays County EMS where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim’s wife was in the apartment at the time of the shooting and was not harmed, police say.