Paul Quinn College hosted a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to honor the life of Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks. The 46-year-old was tragically killed in an ambush attack a week ago. His community remembers him as a dedicated educator, community servant, and loving friend.
Burks was shot while sitting in his patrol car during what authorities described as a premeditated ambush by 30-year-old Corey Cobb-Bey. The attack also injured two other officers before Cobb-Bey was fatally shot by police.
A 2007 Paul Quinn graduate, Burks was a proud alum and a former teacher who had recently completed police training. He was actively involved in his community, served with the Boy Scouts of America, and was a Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated member.
Remembering Officer Burks
At the vigil, which drew hundreds of attendees, Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell expressed deep sorrow for the loss felt within the community.
“This has hit our community exceptionally hard,” Sorrell told those gathered at PQC’s Heritage Bell. “Brother Burks was someone who was the salt of the earth. He never had a bad word to say about anybody. He would give you the shirt off his back. He was a man who understood the essence of service.”
Sorrell emphasized Burks’ commitment to selflessness, both in the classroom and in law enforcement. “He was selfless in the classroom. He was selfless in the community, and then he chose a career where he could give back in a completely different way,” he said in an interview with Fox 4 News. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Darron Burks left this place better than he found it.”
Public visitations for Officer Burks are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. at Watermark Church in Dallas. A celebration of life service will follow on September 7 at the same location.
As the community mourns Burks’s death, his legacy continues to resonate among those he touched throughout his career and life.
