NC Teen Fugitive Arrested at Chicago Bus Station After Deadly Walmart Shooting
LUMBERTON, NC – The violent end to holiday shopping at a North Carolina Walmart has escalated into a national manhunt culminating in the dramatic arrest of 17-year-old Ezekiel Burden. The teen fugitive was apprehended at a Chicago Greyhound bus station this week, charged with the murder of 42-year-old Brandy Nicole Olson, who was gunned down while waiting in line at a bank inside the store.
Caught on Camera
Cellphone footage taken by a shopper during the chaos reveals six gunshots ringing out near the Walmart’s Woodforest Bank. Olson, struck by stray bullets, tragically fell victim while allegedly trying to escape the hail of gunfire. “The scariest s— I have ever experienced!” wrote witness Kayleann Brooke, who posted the video on Facebook.
Steven Rumsey, another shopper, described the terror: “When he started shooting, the lady ran in front of him,” he told CBS affiliate WNCN, suggesting Olson’s death may have been accidental amidst the gunfire targeting others.
The Arrest
Following weeks on the run, Burden’s escape plan unraveled on January 21, 2025, thanks to a tip-off from an informant. United States Marshals arrested him as he prepared to board a Greyhound bus in Chicago. Photos released by authorities show Burden being apprehended at the station, ending his brief stint as a fugitive. He is currently held in a Chicago jail, awaiting extradition to North Carolina.
The Shooting
The December 20th attack at the Walmart on Fayetteville Road in Lumberton wasn’t random. According to Lumberton police, Burden and 18-year-old accomplice Brian Campbell allegedly targeted two individuals they “knew” standing at the bank. Olson was an unintended victim caught in the crossfire.
Campbell, who fled with Burden after the shooting, turned himself in three days later and has been charged with accessory after the fact to a felony.
The Collaboration
This manhunt united multiple agencies, including the Lumberton Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service, alongside Chicago police. Using advanced surveillance and intelligence methods, authorities tracked Burden across state lines.
“In an era where technology leaves no place to hide, collaborative efforts make fugitives easier to apprehend,” noted an SBI spokesperson.
Targeted Attack Turns Tragic
Burden now faces several charges, including first-degree murder, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and other related offenses. Authorities allege he went to the Walmart with the intent to kill two specific individuals, making Olson’s death an unintended but tragic consequence of the violence he unleashed.
This chilling incident underscores the devastating impact of gun violence and the far-reaching consequences for victims, families, and communities. As the justice system prepares to hold Burden accountable, it’s a stark reminder of how quickly lives can be shattered by deliberate acts of violence.
Photo: Ezekiel Burden (Lumberton Police Department)