In the line of fireWoman recalls deputy's fatal shooting By Andy Paras (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Alan Hawes Tiffany Buras hugs her mother, Lisa Jones, next to the car she was a passenger in as it was hit by gunfire from her husband moments after he shot and killed an Orangeburg County deputy. Her husband, Derrick, was killed after he was run over by the car as Tiffany and her sister tried to flee. ORANGEBURG — Tiffany Buras packed the last of her belongings into her sister's car early Sunday morning and waited by the passenger-side door to see what her husband was going to do next. Orangeburg County Deputy William Howell Jr. also was waiting for Derrick "Dukes" Buras to come out of the house. The deputy had escorted Tiffany and her sister to the Holly Hill mobile home where the Burases lived so Tiffany could take her belongings without being confronted again by her enraged husband. Howell stood on the front porch with his back slightly turned from the home when the first shotgun blast struck him in the head, Tiffany said Wednesday. "He didn't have a chance to do anything," the 18-year-old said of Howell. "As soon as he turned around, he just got shot." She watched the deputy fall to the ground. Derrick Buras, 21, leapt over the deputy's fallen body and aimed the shotgun at her. Tiffany jumped into the passenger seat and told her 16-year-old sister to drive. The 16-year-old, whose name is being withheld at the request of the family because she is a juvenile, floored the gas pedal. The tires spun but the car didn't move. Pellets from Buras' pump-action gun rang off the hood, Tiffany said. Shrapnel pierced the Honda's radiator, sending steam into the air. Both girls ducked beneath the dash. Tiffany said she shifted the gear from reverse to drive but the tires continued to spin, kicking dirt and rocks into the air. Another shotgun blast shattered the window on the passenger's side. Two men, one of whom shared the mobile home with the Burases, jumped on Derrick Buras, trying to wrestle the gun from him. The Honda's tires continued to spin until the young driver remembered to release the parking brake. The tires took hold, sending the car off in a wave of motion. The car plowed blindly through the pile of men, looped around the yard and a neighbor's yard until it stopped abruptly. "I told her, come on, come on, let's get going," Tiffany said. "She said, 'I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm on something.' " Tiffany said she looked up and saw one of the men appear from beneath the car. The driver hit the gas again and the car sped off down the dirt road, with both occupants terrified that Derrick Buras was following them with the shotgun. "We thought he was still loose," she said. "We were scared to death." The young driver said it felt as though the car still was dragging something. She kept driving until she felt the added weight release from the car. They sped down the dirt road until the young driver, unfamiliar with the road, hit the brakes hard at a stop sign. The car skidded through the sign and into a small tree before coming to rest in a ditch. Tiffany said they flagged down a passing motorist who took them to their mom's friend. One girl called 911 while the other called their mom and told them Derrick "shot a cop." Tiffany hoped the deputy survived. "In my head, I wanted to believe he shot him in the chest and the deputy was wearing a bulletproof vest," she said. The shot was fatal. Howell, 46, died at the scene. Derrick Buras died that morning too after being hit by and dragged beneath the Honda. Authorities suspect he might have stood up and walked a bit after he was freed from the car and then fell in a ditch. Tiffany said she didn't find out what happened to her husband until hours later. She broke down in tears when the coroner told her the news. The Burases had been together for two years and got married six months ago. She has his name tattooed on her arm and hers on his. She said he became controlling and possessive as soon as they exchanged vows. Tiffany said she tried to leave her husband Friday night but that he became angry and wouldn't let her go. She fled when he was next door, but he immediately called her mom's house and reportedly threatened to burn down his mother-in-law's home if he didn't speak to his wife right away, Tiffany said. That's when they called the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. Derrick Buras had three outstanding warrants at the time of his death, authorities said. He was facing three charges of assault and battery with intent to kill for a June 2007 incident and multiple arrests for criminal domestic violence against his wife. It wasn't clear Wednesday whether Howell knew of the warrants. Tiffany said she plans to attend the deputy's funeral but is not sure what she will do after that. She doesn't feel welcome at her husband's funeral and isn't sure she could make it through without falling to pieces. She viewed his body one last time Monday to say goodbye. She couldn't stay long. "It was too real," she said. The incident has been extremely hard on her younger sister. The girl, an honor roll student, insisted on attending school Monday. Her mom and sister said the girl was met with taunts and chants. Some students called her a murderer and even blamed her for the deputy's death. Suddenly, the girl who hates missing school because she's determined to be the first of her siblings to graduate from high school doesn't want to go back. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said he does not anticipate anyone being charged in Buras' death. Pascoe and the State Law Enforcement Division have declined to release details about the shooting since the investigation is ongoing. Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com. Editor's note: Earlier versions of this story needed clarification with respect to whose home Buras reportedly threatened to burn. The Post and Courier regrets the error. |
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Comments
This article has 37 comment(s)
Posted by robeweise on May 8, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That kid got what was coming to him. I hope it hurt.
Posted by moonpie on May 8, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
18 and married still in high school. WOW, who didn't see this coming.
Posted by Doormat on May 8, 2008 at 6:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm confused. If the Cop killer had warrants against him and there was an officer sent to protect the woman retrieving her things the cop should have been informed and officers should have been on hand to assist in arresting this individual.
Sounds like the system needs some tuning to make our officers safer performing their duties.
Posted by kennyt on May 8, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I could not imagine the horror at that home that day, and for the officer just doing his job may God be with his family. You do not do wrong and get away with it forever some payback comes slower than others while this man's came immediate. You reap what you sow.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on May 8, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a nightmare for that young girl and her sister. That is really aweful.
My condolences go out to the girl, her younger sister and the family of the police officer. This breaks my heart for them all.
Posted by whalernut on May 8, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ask Sheriff Williams why in the hell was that deputy at a domestic call alone?
I believe it is the policy of most if not all to send two deputies to all domestics.
This is a real shame and I feel for the deputy's family. However it is the sheriff’s office that is to blame and Sheriff Williams should resign for gross negligence!
Posted by cnast777 on May 8, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nightmare for the girl? Uh, how about the deputy and his family? Stories like this really piss me off. A good cop gets killed because of some redneck trash.
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 8, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Prayers to the families involved.
Karma is a mofo.
Posted by RTC on May 8, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said he does not anticipate anyone being charged in Buras' death."
Really? Not only was it an accident, but it was justifiable.
Every police officer I have ever asked has said that domestics are the most dangerous calls to which they respond. Why did this poor officer not have backup?
He was trying to help a woman, and this is his reward?
My sincerest condolences go out to his family.
Posted by Weeeee on May 8, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Same as yesterday and Tuesday. In a word, trash.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to the friends and family of Deputy William Howell Jr. and also to Tiffany Buras and her family. What a horrible thing to go through.
I was married at 17. My wife was 18. She wasn't pregnant. We thought we were in love. We were stupid. Neither of us though, was violent. It sounds as if Tiffany did all of the right things when the relationship turned abusive. I'm just sorry it had to end up costing the life of a policeman and having an 18 and 16 year old go through something this tragic.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 8, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would agree that Mr. Buras is trash since he was the one that started this downfall.
To the younger sister involved, keep your head up. You saved your sister's life and yours. So be proud and stay proud don't let no one try to take your piece of mind from you.
To Tiffany- I really do hope you can get yourself together. It sounds like you were taking the steps to get out of this abusive relationship and I applaud you for that. Do not think this is your fault because you could have died as well from your husband.
I also have to wonder why this police officer was sent to take care of a domestic problem with a gentleman that has outstanding warrants and a violent past. I hate that this officer died over this.
Posted by Weeeee on May 8, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed. And still I don't fully understand why this guy was free or why there weren't other officers there with him. I've seen three patrol cars pull up to a CDV call. Sometimes even two to three patrol cars pull up to a traffic violation.
I can already hear the lawsuits being printed out.
Posted by ln1959 on May 8, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was a horrible crime and I also can not understand why this officer was on this call without backup, or why this fool was out of jail after being charge for attempted murder.
I have a dear friend thats a law enforcement officer and she said she will not go to a domestic disturbance call without back up and if she could she would not go at all.
My heart goes out to the family of this officer and to the young ladies. Some kids can be so cruel. For sixteen, that was just to much for a person should have to go through.
Posted by Satanssybil2007 on May 8, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my condolences to the family of the police officer. Good ridance to the husband and as for the wife and the sister, thank god you are safe and as for the mother of the girls where in the f*** did you learn how to be a parent? It is all too obivious YOU SUCK!
Posted by TonyaC on May 8, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't agree with those who are bashing the wife and mother for there marriage. I got married at 17 and my husband was 19. We didn't have any children until I was 20 and now we have four. We would have celebrated our 18th anniversary this year if he were still alive.
The wife, in this case did everything within the law to get away from this idiot! It's a shame the officer died in the process. What I would like to know, is who are the parents of the kids taunting the sister. This girl saved both there lives. She possibly save their mother's life as well. He obviously didn't care about taking her entire family's life away by threatning to set her mom's trailer on fire. Good for the SOB! He probably was planning a murder suicide!
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on May 8, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Folks, this was a domestic problem with which law enforcement was involved, but this was not a domestic CALL: "The deputy had escorted Tiffany and her sister to the Holly Hill mobile home where the Burases lived so Tiffany could take her belongings without being confronted again by her enraged husband."
The officer was there to make sure things didn't escalate into a problem, not to de-escalate a domestic disturbance call. He was there to maintain the peace, not restore it- big difference. Unfortunately, the officer never had a chance. And even if there had been two officers on hand, it sounds like the result might have been the same, if not worse.
Regardless, this is a tragedy all around and I feel for everyone involved- except the guy that was stuck under the car.
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 8, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Orangeburg county sheriff's office dispatchers shoulder the fault for this death. They knew who they were sending the Deputy to. They should have had the common sense to run the name thru NCIC...they would have seen that he had warrants. It also sounds like the cops have been at that house for that clown before. The Deputy should have been warned of the warrants and he should have had backup. The call center/dispatchers eat this one.
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 8, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, the Deputy's supervisor on duty also shoulders some responsibility as well. Either send another Deputy to back William up, or Get off your butt and back him up yourself!
Posted by KATHYAYNORSC on May 8, 2008 at 11:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TO EVERYONE THATS HAS A BAD COMMENT TO SAY ABOUT DERRICK BURAS.THEN KEEP HIS NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. DERRICK WAS A GOOD PERSON THAT MADE SOME WRONG CHOICES IN LIFE. BUT WHO IN THIS SH*IT HOLE DOSE. NOBODY IS PERFECT. HE PAID FOR HIS CHARGES THAT WAS ON HIM IN 2007. HE PAID HIS FINE. BURAS WAS A REAL GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU ALL.
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 9, 2008 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You living in Aynor proves you're trash right along with Buras.
He got what he deserved and I hoped he suffered plenty while being dragged under that car.
Posted by wonderdog on May 9, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Murder of a police officer and the attempted murders of his wife and sister in law indicate that he was NOT a good person and that he did more than make "some wrong choices in life." Is that really so difficult to understand?
Posted by number1volsfan1 on May 9, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KATHYAYNORSC are you serious? A good person? Get real! This slug should have been put out of his own misery long before now! The man is a wife beater who had no regard for others (including a police officer)! Takes alot of guts to defend that kind of slime.
Posted by reality_woman on May 9, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KATHYAYNORSC, you should be ashamed of admitting you knew this piece of crap let alone defend him. I'm glad you are not my neighbor.
Posted by KATHYAYNORSC on May 9, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOOK U GEEKGUY2008 THE NEXT TIME YOU TALK TO MY WIFE YOU BETTER HAVE RESPECT TOWARDS HER. DO YOU UNDERSTAND OH BY THE WAY IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE PERSONAL ISSUSES YOURSELF
PAL. I'M HER HUSBAND
Posted by ColdBeer on May 9, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, ok.. so the husband and wife are both stupid.
Posted by number1volsfan1 on May 9, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey husband-of-KATHY, if wifey can't accept the truth, perhaps she should not post such rediculous comments!
Posted by KATHYAYNORSC on May 9, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO WE ARE NOT STUPID. YOU ARE THE STUPID ONE THAT DONT HAVE
NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT TYPE SOME BAD STUFF ABOUT SOMEBODY
THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.LIKE I SAID BEFORE DERRICK WAS A
GOOD PERSON AND WE LOVE AND HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALOT OF
PEOPLE.WHEN A MAN IS AT HOME HE IS FAR AS HE CAN GO.
THANK YOU WE LOVE AND WE WILL MISS YOU DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by KATHYAYNORSC on May 9, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY THERE THIS IS KATHY I CAN ACCEPT THE TRUTH BUT MAYBE YOU ARE THE STUPID ONE.DERRICK WAS A GOOD BOY AND IF DON'T KNOW HIM KEEP HIS NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH....
Posted by number1volsfan1 on May 9, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, I didn't know him (thankfully). By reading your posts,(regarding your "stupid" comment) I can pretty well bet my level of education is just a tad bit higher than yours.
By the way, "good boys" don't beat their wives, kill cops, or have several arrest warrents awaiting them.
I will also allow anything "into my mouth" I want. I spent 20 years of my life defending my freedom to speak freely.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 9, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Derrick "Dukes" Buras is, I mean WAS, a cold blooded cop killer. The world is better off without him. The only good part of this story is that he was killed. Now I won't have to waste my tax payer’s dollars supporting him.
KATHYAYNORSC, can you please check and see if your computer has some type of word processing program installed. If it does, please type your post there first, allow the program to correct your spelling and grammar, and then copy and paste your post to this site. That won't get rid of the "stupid" name calling that you are enduring, as much of that is based on your inability to understand that cop killers are not good people, but it will get rid of "some" of the evidence that backs up the name calling.
You're welcome.
Posted by KATHYAYNORSC on May 9, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To everyone out there that has something to say bad about
Duke. How come you are sitting here writing bad about him
and you didn't know him. How about all these people out here that has killed kids, raped kids, killed there parents
but there is nothing bad said about them. But Duke is been talked about just because he killed a cop. If the cop had better since to go to somebody house at 1:30 in the morning to get somecothes and told the wife to wait til the next day this would not of happen.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 9, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kathy, I don't need to know a rapist, murderer, molester, or cop killer to be able to say we are better off with out them. I say that about ALL of them, not just your friend. Normal people (good people) do not shoot a cop that shows up at their house... even if it is 1:30 AM. You obviously are feeling some loss at this. If he was your friend, that is understandable, I guess. I'm not sure why you can't understand that the rest of us find his actions deplorable and inexcusable.
A cop went to work one day. He went to work to protect you, me and many others. He did not go home at the end of his shift because of Derrick Buras’ actions. That cop had friends and family too. Those people will never get to talk to him again. They will never get to hug him, thank him or tell them that they love him. His name was William Howell Jr. and he did nothing wrong. He was doing his job protecting the public. He had a wife and three kids. Are you going to look them in the eye and tell them that “Dukes” was a “good guy”?
Posted by Girleygirl on May 9, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My turn- Allwoman calm down girl...calm down.
Kathy go to hell with Duke since you miss him so much. A good boy don't shoot to kill cops, have outstanding warrants, and beat his wife. HE was a little boy he takes guns to fight and hits women....scary little punk BITCH made man. SOmeone should have took that titty out of his mouth and made him man up for his actions. I hope you don't have any kids!! Your friend would have been alive if he did not shoot a cop, and chase down a car. He is at fault !
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 9, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To kathy's commonlaw husband, I'm shaking in my boots "pal".
Trash begets Trash. No sense. Kant spel. Word processing ignorant. Backwoods, inbred, obese, rotted teeth, ignorant, trailer-park living people. They live in Aynor for christ's sake. Overlook them.
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 9, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that it took so long for these "Aynor people" to start posting just proves that they had to go into town and FIND someone with a computer and then have that person SHOW them how to use it..... bwuahhahahah
Bless their little trailer park hearts! This is probably the first time there little 'ole selves even saw a computer!
Posted by wonderdog on May 9, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"But Duke is been talked about just because he killed a cop."
Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't realize it was "just because" he murdered a police officer. You need a complete mental workup.
"I'll bet if someone took a DNA sample kit to Aynor SC it would burst into flames. It appears that place has become over ran with the inbreeding of demons."
I could not have said it better myself.