This case demonstrates that self-defense claims can be definitively refuted by physical evidence, surveillance footage, and witness testimony. Skyler Burley's attempt to justify shooting a 17-year-old as self-defense was contradicted by gas station camera footage showing he had his gun out before the victim even opened his door, multiple witness accounts, and forensic evidence. Despite Burley's claims of being terrified and defending himself, the evidence revealed he had premeditated the attack and fled the scene, ultimately resulting in his conviction for murder with a firearm specification and an 18-year-to-life sentence. This case illustrates that while individuals may attempt to justify violent actions through self-defense narratives, objective evidence and comprehensive investigation will reveal the true nature of criminal intent.
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Man Kills Teen Over Traffic Dispute, Thinks He’s Going HomeAdded:
GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON GROUND.
>> Get on the ground.
>> This is Skyler Burley. And just moments earlier, he shot a 17-year-old in the head, then tried to run him over over a simple traffic stop. And for a moment, he actually thought he could get away with it.
>> The guy when he hit when he hit him, when he shot him, he was behind the car.
And the guy tried to run over >> still ahead, but he's still gassing.
Hours later, the man who fired that shot was sitting across from a detective. He had an explanation for everything. What he didn't know was that the gas station camera had been recording the whole time.
>> He jumps out at me and start swinging.
So, um like first thing I did was I did him, but it was I was terrified for myself and I was defending myself.
>> Wouldn't have made much difference cuz we got the video. We haveit lot of witnesses.
On August 13th, 2024, in Southwest Columbus, Ohio, 17-year-old Gage Anderson got into a traffic argument with Skyler Burley. What started as a simple road dispute quickly turned into a confrontation at a United Dairy Farmers Gas Station, escalating fast enough that witnesses had no choice but to call 911.
>> Um, climate studio, some guy just got shot.
>> Okay. Where's he at?
>> Lying dead in the parking lot.
>> He said he's in the parking lot. Did you see who did it?
>> No. The the car just set off. It was a It a dark colored SUV. Drove um >> You said what color SUV?
>> Dark colored like a dark blue or black.
He was the Oh my god. The He set off going towards Georgesville Road.
>> When officers arrived, the scene was still active. Witnesses were everywhere.
And Gage Anderson was on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head, still barely alive.
Still gasping. Still gasing.
>> Still working.
>> We're still working.
>> He's shot in the head, but he's still gasping.
>> You going right now?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Y >> Gage Anderson was from Southshore, Kentucky. A regular 17-year-old with no criminal history and no connection at all to Skyler Burley. According to the person who was with Gage, the only thing that brought them into the same place was a simple traffic movement at a nearby intersection. Something so small it should have meant nothing at all.
>> Are you Are you Do you have uh his information?
>> What do you need?
>> Like name, birthday, address, >> Gage Anderson. The guy when he when he hit him when he shot him, he was behind the car and the guy drive over him. I was like, "Hey, hey, you're running over." He turned to run over and he pulled up and I finally backed out.
>> Do you recognize these gentlemen at all?
>> Uh kind of. Like I if I probably seen him again, >> but do you know who they are? Okay. So the strangers to you?
>> Yeah. One thing we was just coming down where this road is right here. Demer, >> right?
>> We was just coming down. There's a stoplight. There's a there's a gas station up beyond us. We just want to stop there first. They had the door was locked. So we get right down there.
>> So we we stopped at that light and then we stopped at that light to turn left come on dimmer.
>> You have it.
>> We just coming down. They're just coming down the road and all this keep come flying up behind us. I'm like, "What?
Hurry. You need a better like that guy's probably mad or something." I'm like, >> "So, was this possibly out of a road rage incident over there by the uh gas station?"
>> No. No. Nothing was ever seen.
>> You were You were facing westbound turning left to go and the car didn't come up behind you or >> It was right beside us.
>> So, beside it was going to go straight.
>> You went left and then I don't know.
That's why I'm saying like once we I didn't know that was even going on cuz we turn like nothing. And like we just turned, I was just cruising, not going down. I was just driving and all of a sudden I looked up in the rearview mirror and this guy just comes flying in behind us. I'm like, "What the hell?"
>> I said, "Why is that car falling?" So we pulled out, turned left, turned right, came around and came in there. And as we came in, I just pulled up where I pulled out that Buick and he just came up and just kind of like pulled like I'm sitting here and he pulled in like this and he jumped out. He was like, "You got something to say, boy?"
Like, "What the is your problem, dude?"
He was like, he was like, "Hey." And like like hit him like he [ __ ] looked out through the window. just popped the door. But soon as they popped the door open, they kind of start tussing. They pushed it back to the car. As soon as they hit the car, he popped >> chopper on that camera. Who's inside?
>> By 8:40 that night, Gage Anderson was pronounced dead at Grant Medical Center.
And as officers tried to make sense of the chaos, one question still had no answer. Where did Skyler Burley go?
>> Ma'am, >> go ahead and step over here for me, please. Okay. Are you related?
>> Uncle that's my daughter.
>> Okay. Who's who's with them? Who's with them?
>> I don't know. I was at the light.
>> Okay. But did you see the incident?
>> No. I heard it.
>> Do you mind sitting on that bumper of that cruiser right there, please?
>> Ma'am, did you see what happened?
>> So, you saw a suspect possibly. Okay.
>> The guy about hit me as I was pulling in >> and he was pulling out right here. He was in a all black tinted Audi. He had his window.
>> All black. All black Audi.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. And he took off. It was >> He went that way.
>> Okay. And was it one guy or two guys or how many guys?
>> It looked like it was two guys, but >> what two guys on foot or one guy still in the car?
>> In the car.
>> Now that officers had a physical description, it was only a matter of time. And that time came fast. About a mile from the gas station, a police helicopter locked onto Skyler Burley.
And from that point on, he wasn't disappearing anymore.
>> He ran into the house at 3859.
I just kept looking at at the helicopter. Fine.
>> He spotted the chopper and immediately tried to get clever. He switched cars, changed direction and deliberately tried to shake it, but it didn't matter. From the air, every move was visible. And without realizing it, Burley had already run out of options.
>> Watch crossfire. Watch crossfire.
PUT YOUR HANDS UP NOW. PUT THEM UP. GET ON THE GROUND.
Get cars that way.
Stop right now. Stop right now.
>> Get on.
>> GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON GROUND.
Get on ground.
>> I got >> Okay, I got his left hand.
>> I have his left hand.
GET THOSE LEGS.
>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
>> Do we have his right arm?
>> Do we have his right arm? Slow it down. Slow it down.
>> Slow down.
back.
>> Skyler Burley was finally caught. But even after everything that just happened, he only had one question and it stuck with one of the officers on scene.
>> All right, my man. You need a medic?
>> You got a breach for a minute? Huh?
>> No, I gave you a taser. We're going to get you up and get you in the car so you can just kind of relax and we're going have a medic come over here. Okay.
>> All right. Ready? Stand right up.
>> Why all it is?
>> What's that?
>> Why all it is?
>> I don't know. Take my car right now.
>> Okay. We're going to go back to the car.
Sorry.
>> You know why all it is?
>> I'm asking.
>> No, we we just heard that there was a car took off from somebody. We're all over where you're at. So >> lady, I don't know where they're at.
>> He wasn't asking about the victim. He wasn't asking about what came next. He was genuinely confused about why any of this had been necessary. Before the questioning even begins, officers don't rush anything. They run Skyler through standard processing step by step. During intake, Skyler also admits he used marijuana within the last 24 hours. And once the interview begins, he wastes no time telling his version of events.
>> So, this this is your opportunity to tell me [snorts] what happened and why. When did this when did this start?
>> Uh, I can't give you a time.
>> A general idea. Was it still light out?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> It was still light outside.
Um, I'm going um towards the gas station. I just bought some um Taco Bell for my daughter.
>> Okay.
>> Um going towards the gas station. The gentleman cuts me off. We end up going to the same spot. Um I hop out, dude side talking um talking like I say disrespect or threaten.
So, >> how do you how do you mean >> like saying he's gonna take me?
So, I um I get the car and I talk to the driver and I tell the driver like um man I don't basically tell him I don't want no problems. Basically letting him know that it wasn't cool. He don't hurt both of us. Do get offended. I send the passenger a side. Um he jumps out at me and starts swinging.
So the first thing um my first thing I did was I did shoot him.
>> Okay.
>> But it was I was terrified for myself and I was defending myself.
>> Okay. Do you remember how how many times you shot?
>> Once.
>> Once. Do you know where he was struck?
>> I do not.
>> Okay. Um, >> that's good. I I appreciate your honesty in that.
>> I ain't [clears throat] going to lie to you, man.
>> Okay.
>> The detective didn't push back. He let Strader talk and build his version of events as completely as he wanted. And as he speaks, he builds a story where he is not the aggressor, but the one forced to respond.
>> When where did he you were coming out Taco Bell? Where at? I don't know that area real well. We you want the um the Taco Bell where where you guys almost had a collision?
>> Well, George, >> I went to the Taco Bell and Hersburg Pike. But we had we almost had a collision on um you know where Franklin Heights at?
>> Yeah, >> the school.
>> Yeah.
>> You was right past that, right? Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Denver.
>> And you were going towards the UDF. So, you're going south?
>> I'm going Yes, sir.
>> Okay. And he was coming from where? He's I want to say he was turning out from that parking lot.
>> From the school parking lot.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Okay.
>> So, we both was going.
>> So, there was a there was a school parking lot. There's also some >> not the school parking lot. It's it's two schools over there. You got Franklin Park and you got the one that used to be like a CVS. They made it into like a county academy school.
>> Oh. Oh, okay. Okay. Charter school.
>> Yeah, that's what I think it is.
>> Okay. So, he's pulling out all that.
[clears throat] >> Yeah.
>> Okay. And I feel like by me telling driver like you almost basically messed both of us up. He took it offense.
>> What were your exact words, bro?
>> Oh, you almost both of us.
>> Okay.
>> You almost both of us.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
And the driver responded how >> he looks over the dude. He he instantly looks over the dude and that's when dude just I wish I can show you the way it was.
>> Okay. [clears throat] >> But it's only us and they probably try to put me like I'm trying to attack y'all tight stuff and I ain't trying to go through that.
>> All right.
Um after this happens, what happened? I you shot.
>> After I shot, I get in the car to basically I leave the scene to I I was about to call you guys, but by the time I get to the place to call you guys, it was already like 30 20 cars pulling up.
>> Okay.
And you went in you went into that house?
>> Yeah. Going into the house.
>> Yeah. Is that your address?
>> No. Doesn't work. I stay in a hotel.
>> And once you got there, what did you do?
>> Once I got there, I basically walk back and forth cuz the helicopter start your circle and then I got into um her sister's car heading back up there and that's when she calls me, the mother of my child calls me to say it's like so many cars there. So I take upon myself then go back I go back um so many police officers like 20 30 ARS >> right >> I'm going to keep it real >> no I scared and I know I know how >> yeah I ran I I actually ran then I'm on the phone with the mother of my child she was like you're not doing it besides making it worse so I came back so once I came that they they made it like I was um like dangerous. I would say >> I understand they point because >> I did run.
>> We don't know anything. All we know is a man dressed like you shot a man and ran from the UD. We had no idea why.
>> No, we don't know what you're thinking.
We don't know.
>> I totally understand. Okay.
>> Like I don't I don't blame you guys for what y'all did, but you feel Okay.
>> But yeah. Um, so I basically come back.
Um, they slam me on the ground.
>> When When did you get into the white car >> or the gold car? Yeah.
>> Uh, I say parked the black one.
>> I parked the black one.
>> You go in the house?
>> No, I didn't go in the house.
>> Okay.
>> My the mother and my child went in the house with the food. I just I I walk from the porch, walk back. walk forth walk back and I seen a helicopter and that's when I got the I got in the go-kart was about to go back and that's when they to that's when she was on the phone like they here.
>> How long were How long were you there before >> before they before you tried to get away and how long were how long from the time you parked that black car till the time police started chasing you? You notice helicopter over the top of you? Well, I try to get away, but I say by the time I parked the the black car and got into the golden, >> it was like a minute they was pulling.
>> Okay.
>> Like if you even say a minute, like soon as soon as I parked the black car, I walked to the porch, walk back, seen the helicopter, and then I get in a gold car about to go back. And that's when I see I see um I see cops, but it was only one at the time.
But she and that's when I was going to I called her. She said that's when it was a lot of them.
>> Mhm.
>> So I circle back around.
I circle back around. That's when they surprised me with all them talking about they shoot me.
>> So your intention was to surrender to him when you seen >> Man, I seen I ain't going to lie. I seen AR-15.
>> I get it.
>> Yeah. They had scopes and >> we're we're we're wellunded people.
>> Well, you >> Yeah, I get it.
>> You well compact.
>> Skyler sitting there acting like he's the victim. Like the worst thing that happened to him was getting tased, ignoring the fact that he ran instead of just surrendering. But >> couple questions. What happened to the clothes that you had on when this incident occurred? cuz it looks like from the UDF video, it looks like you have something long sleeve on. Did you have a hoodie on?
>> Uh, I did have a black one.
>> Okay. Where's that at?
>> I don't know.
>> When did you take it off?
>> Lights.
Oh man.
I want to say in the car.
>> The big question, what happened to the firearm? Where's it at?
>> The firearm is uh Is it not in my bag?
He's not in a bag.
>> No.
>> A w the witness seen the firearm in your hand when you were coming out of the black car.
>> Witness had a firearm in my hand when I got out the black car.
>> Yeah.
>> When was this?
>> Tonight.
>> That gun that gun should be in that gray bag.
It along should be some some weed.
>> Was that in it?
>> What weed was? Yeah.
>> But that's not the only version of what happened that night. Because while Skylar is inside the interrogation room building his self-defense claim, someone who was actually with him is speaking to investigators outside, Annetta Cooper, and her account doesn't strengthen his story. It complicates it. Now, I understand your relationship with Skyler is you have a common child together.
>> Okay. Uh, where are you staying right now?
>> I'm staying between my sister's house and my friend's house because I'm waiting for my inspection to be passed for CMHA to be able to move into my own place.
>> What started all this?
I I don't I guess road rage because they were they were both like bickering back and forth and then they went to the gas station and then from there >> okay >> like I don't know what happened but they ended up both at the gas station because Skyler had turned around and to the gas station.
>> Did you guys almost hit each other or anything like that?
>> No, that's why I was confused. What the is happening? And then we go to UDF and then dude opens up the door. Skyler opens up the door. They're arguing. And then next thing you know, like Skyler like this. And then dude ran out the car and attacked him. And then after that, I heard gunshots. And then I'm telling him to stay there. We can't leave the scene.
But he's driving and he takes off. And then we end up at my sister's house. And then you guys came.
>> Okay. Who pulled on the lot first? Them or or you?
Okay. And they parked >> and right they were right in the front of the store where >> Okay.
Were you guys getting gas there?
>> No, I wasn't getting No, it was road rage. He was following him to the gas station.
>> All right. The shooting occurs. Then what happens >> then? That's when I say stay there. You don't stay there. He rushes to my sister's house and I'm telling him turn yourself in. Turn yourself in. you know, like our baby and everything like you need to turn yourself in.
And then next thing you know, you there [clears throat] go I went outside and inside for like two times talking about I love you. I'm sorry. I love you. Then he took off and he came back telling I love you. I'm sorry. [cough] And then he outside. But after we got to Jackie's house, he did cut his hair and I said, "You need to just turn yourself in." And he's like, "I [clears throat] love you."
>> He cut his hair.
>> Yeah.
>> He took the tags off and cut his hair.
>> Yes. And then I said, "What is what is you doing? You need to turn yourself in." And that's when he says, "I I literally that's all I kept saying.
Please, your baby needs you. Your baby needs you." Like she's up there crying.
I said, "You don't hear her like that'll make you." And he says, "H" He says, "I'm not doing this. I can't do this.
I'm out. I'm running." I said, "You need to turn yourself in." And then when you guys I was on the phone with him when you guys pulled up told him like you need to come here and turn yourself in or you're putting your family in danger.
And that's when he came back because I told him like you need to be a man and take this because I'm not taking anything for him. I don't care how love how deep love is. I'm not taking nothing for nobody.
>> Love is deep. Love is deep enough where you don't put your loved one in harm's way or make them have to do what you're doing right now.
>> Love doesn't do that.
>> It don't do it right. And I've been trying >> I think what you what you said makes sense that he's got some serious anger issues. You seen this anger before?
I mean, not killed. Does he hit you? But no, he has never hit me.
>> But he has like, you know, gotten angry with people, but it's never I've never >> over silly things or be silly things.
You know, it'd be road rage. Like I be telling him road rage is like the most dangerous thing out here. You don't know. Like people I don't understand it, but he gets mad over road rage or or it's like I don't know. Like you know how these men are out here like they they're they're invincible, you know, like that's what they think.
But he's really it just be little things that make him snap, I guess.
As you see as why you riding my It made him get angry.
>> At this point, it's clear this wasn't self-defense or some accidental shooting. It points more to his anger issues, something his baby mama even warned him about. But even now, he still sticks to the self-defense story. And later on, trying to bring up depression like that somehow explains or justifies what he did. Your actions when the police came up on you before they actually laid hands on you.
And this is after you ran or whatever it was. You made the statement, "I don't care. Go ahead and shoot me. Shoot me. I don't care. It's over." What did you mean by that? Why did you say that?
[sighs] To be honest with you, man, depression gang. Not not sorry to call you gang, but depression, man. I lost my daughter, sister.
I um I tried to do right for them and everything's >> How did you lose?
>> My daughter with a seizure, >> she was the only one.
My sister drugs Aon.
>> Sorry to hear that, brother.
>> I appreciate it, man.
But um >> was that here in college?
>> Last >> for the last few months. Um I've been trying to build myself to be the the male for my kid.
>> How old?
>> She's seven. Okay. I got [clears throat] a promotion coming and I was >> Where are you working at?
>> Why do you carry it though?
>> Especially when you have the depression.
>> You want You want honesty like full >> Let me put this way. That's what I expect and that's what I demand.
>> Well, that's that's the only way I would rather give it. But to keep it real, like my brother, my sister's boyfriend [snorts] um shot at me.
That's what made me initially get it from the beginning cuz of that um protection. Um watching the news, I see people constantly bars driving past bars, clubs, kill people, um shooting people. So by me having a daughter and a girlfriend, I'm the only male that they have. Her mom's gone. So I try to be the protection of the family. Um to be real, >> the guy that jumped out of the car at you, did he say anything?
>> I might have missed that.
>> Uh yeah. Well, when he jumped out of the car, he did. When he was in the car.
Okay.
>> He did.
That's when he threatened me.
>> Threaten what? He's threatening you.
How?
>> That's when he say he going to kill me.
>> He right?
>> Let me see that on the video.
>> He Your gun was out.
>> He was in my hoodie, >> right?
And the shot was You didn't reach for your hoodie. The shot was as soon as he got out of the car.
>> He's Am I able to see this?
>> Eventually. Yeah.
I mean, I'm And I expect you to be honest with you and I'm going to be honest with you.
>> No, I'm trust me. I I could have lied about the whole shooting and stuff like that. You feel me?
>> It wouldn't have made much wouldn't have made much difference because we got the video. We have a shitload of witnesses >> with C with cell phones. They're still collecting all the cell phones.
Those who didn't have a cell phone had eyes. They seen it. They heard it. We're going to find cameras. It's going to follow you. We're going to go back out probably tomorrow. We'll find a camera.
It's going to follow you from where you said you started all this demest all the way to the UDF. And when you pull out the UDF, we know basically what direction you went. We'll start following cameras there.
start following ring cameras and then I just hope that nothing contradicts what you said.
>> No, >> cuz that's not going to look good.
>> I know you. No, you good, man.
>> He switched cars. He ran. He even jumped fences like he was trying to disappear and already had a story ready to cover himself. But he forgot one simple thing.
The gas station camera doesn't lie or pick sides. It just records what actually happened. And what it showed was clear. A man stepping out of his car with a gun already in his hand, walking up to someone who hadn't even reacted yet, and firing. In in the weeks after, investigators started piecing everything together. The UDF footage showed Burley already had his gun out before Gage even opened his door. Multiple witnesses also recorded parts of the incident from different angles, and nearby Ring cameras tracked his movements from the intersection all the way to where he was eventually caught. Then the forensic evidence backed it up too. Hand swabs, DNA, everything. And right in the middle of it all was his own words. The first thing I did, I did shoot him. Skyler Burley was charged with murder. He later pleaded guilty to one count of murder with a firearm specification and was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years. Because in the end, it wasn't about what he said in that room. It was about what the evidence never stopped saying outside of it.
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