MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A convicted felon was sentenced to life inprison Monday for the 2016 killing of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigationagent.
Brenden Burns pleaded guilty to felony murder and aggravatedrobbery in the shooting death of Special Agent De’Greaun Frazier, MadisonCounty District Attorney Jody S. Pickens said. Frazier, 35, was killed duringan undercover drug investigation in Jackson in August 2016.
Burns, 24, received a sentence of life in prison without parole ina plea deal that resulted from discussions between prosecutors and defenseattorneys in the run-up to a trial scheduled in November, Pickens said.
Frazier was the first agent in the history of the state policeagency to be killed in the line of duty.
TBI is building a new laboratory and regional headquarters named afterFrazier in Jackson, about 100 miles east of Memphis. In a statement, TBIDirector David Rausch called Frazier, who went by “Dee,” a greatagent.
“There is no way to make what happened to him right, but thisplea allows for a sense of justice for the family,” Rausch said.
Frazier was working with other agents and narcotics officers on adrug investigation when he met a person for a controlled buy in a car inJackson, the TBI has said. The person that Frazier met pulled out a firearm inan apparent robbery attempt and fired at least once, hitting the agent.
Frazier died later at a hospital. Burns was arrested a shortdistance away.
Frazier was married and had worked as a police officer inMillington before joining the TBI.
The agent’s widow said his family is grateful that a resolutionhas been reached in the case.
“We miss Dee every day and hold dear to our memories,”Shannon Frazier said in a statement.
