Crime & Safety
Springfield Man Convicted Of Manslaughter In Killing Of 2 Teenagers
The fatal shooting of two teenagers in 2021 involved the use of a ghost gun, a weapon that can be assembled privately and is not traceable.
SPRINGFIELD, VA — A Springfield man was convicted of two counts of manslaughter on Monday in connection with the shooting deaths of two teenagers in April 2021 that involved the use of a ghost gun, according to the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
Zachary Burkard, 19, who was found guilty on the two counts by a jury, has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 15. On Tuesday, the jury recommended a 20-year prison sentence for him.
Ghost guns are weapons that can be assembled privately and are not traceable.
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“The proliferation of untraceable guns in our communities continues to be unconscionable, and I will keep fighting for stronger laws to address this crisis,” Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said in a statement Tuesday.
In the afternoon of Sunday, April 25, 2021, Fairfax County Police responded to the 8000 block of Winding Way Court in the Newington Forest area of Fairfax County. Officers found one 17-year-old male in the garage with upper body gunshot wounds. Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the boy was pronounced dead by rescue personnel.
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A second 17-year-old male was found in front of a home with an upper body gunshot wound. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
On the day of the killings, four teens went to a home in the area to talk to a resident, leading to a fist fight breaking out. During the fight, police said Burkard, who was 18 at the time, came out and shot two of the juveniles who arrived at the home. Burkard remained on the scene after the shootings and was taken into custody.
Burkard used a ghost gun he made after purchasing parts for the weapon, according to the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office. The handgun was capable of firing in fully automatic mode, the office said.
“Anytime a young person’s life is taken, it’s a tragedy,” Descano said. “But especially when it’s done with a gun that should have never existed.”
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