Second Fort Carson Soldier Faces Murder Charges, Has Criminal Past
Colorado Springs police have made their second arrest in the shooting death of a man near the Sin City Disciples’ motorcycle clubhouse.
John Anthony Burrell, 27, a Fort Carson soldier, was arrested Wednesday morning at the post. Police identified him as a second suspect, and he faces a charge of first-degree murder.
The victim, Virgil Means, 31, was shot and killed March 3 during a disturbance in the vicinity of the clubhouse in the 600 block of West Vermijo Street. Police said Means was shot while sitting in a car, which drove away from the scene.
KRDO Newschannel13 has learned Burrell has a criminal past. According to court documents, Police suspected Burrell robbed his own girlfriend in October 2011 with the help of a friend from the Sin City Disciples Club after finding out she had cashed an $8,000 check. Those same court documents indicate has been working at the Sin City Disciples Club since at least October as a bouncer.
Last week, homicide detectives arrested another Fort Carson soldier, Christopher Mountjoy, 30, on suspicion of first-degree murder in the shooting. Mountjoy is a staff sergeant in the First Brigade Combat Team, Fourth Infantry Division. He’s also a Fountain resident and a Sin City Disciples member.
A background check by KRDO Newschannel 13 revealed that Mountjoy has no criminal record.
Police have not revealed the motive behind the killing, nor explained Burrell’s alleged role in it.
Another Fort Carson soldier, Staff Sgt. Brandon Nichols, is defending Burrell. Nichols said the two were in the same unit until recently, when Burrell moved to another unit, and that both belonged to the New Era Car Club. Nichols said he was shocked about the arrest because he believes Burrell is friendly, helpful, family-oriented and churchgoing.
“I last saw him in the summertime,” said Nichols. “He was moving on to bigger and better things. I don’t even know if he owns a motorcycle. He probably was invited (to the club) and came just to hang out. I do know that normally he’s the peacemaker. That’s what everyone would say about him.”
Nichols said he doesn’t want the shooting to give people the wrong impression about Burrell.
“A lot of people get the idea, the image of car clubs and motorcycle clubs as all being gangs, and in most cases, that’s not the truth,” Nichols said.
Burrell is scheduled for a court advisement at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
