{
  "id": 8555664,
  "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ROBERT LEE BURRIS",
  "name_abbreviation": "State v. Burris",
  "decision_date": "1975-12-03",
  "docket_number": "No. 7526SC693",
  "first_page": "656",
  "last_page": "658",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "27 N.C. App. 656"
    }
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  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
    "id": 14983,
    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "199 S.E. 2d 409",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1973,
      "opinion_index": 0
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    {
      "cite": "284 N.C. 67",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8559900
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      "year": 1973,
      "opinion_index": 0,
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        "/nc/284/0067-01"
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    {
      "cite": "212 S.E. 2d 695",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1975,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "25 N.C. App. 251",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8552783
      ],
      "year": 1975,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/25/0251-01"
      ]
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    {
      "cite": "204 S.E. 2d 864",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1974,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "21 N.C. App. 525",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8556733
      ],
      "year": 1974,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/21/0525-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "185 S.E. 2d 102",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1971,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "279 N.C. 621",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8571881
      ],
      "year": 1971,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/279/0621-01"
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:44:36.927205+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judges Britt and Morris concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ROBERT LEE BURRIS"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "BROCK, Chief Judge.\nDefendant argues that his conviction of both offenses constitutes double jeopardy because both charges grew out of the same events. The State\u2019s evidence tends to show that defendant first fired the shotgun at Willie Ray Moore who, along with his brother, was standing on the porch of Alonzo Moore\u2019s residence. Pellets from the first shot fired struck Willie Ray Moore, and he fell back into the house. Several adults and several children were in the house. Thereafter defendant fired the shotgun at the Alonzo Moore residence two or three times. The assault offense had been completed when defendant fired the shotgun two or three more times at the residence without legal justification or excuse, with knowledge that the residence was occupied by one or more persons, or when defendant had reasonable grounds to believe the residence might be occupied by one or more persons. We hold that the two offenses constituted separate, punishable offenses under the evidence in this case. See State v. Richardson, 279 N.C. 621, 185 S.E. 2d 102 (1971). This assignment of error is overruled.\nAlthough defendant has failed to set out with the clarity provided by the rules of appellate procedure his exception to the charge of the court, we do find the instruction of which he complains to be erroneous. The trial judge instructed the jury as follows:\n\u201cNow, I charge that for you to find the defendant, Robert Lee Burris, guilty of discharging a firearm into occupied property, that is a house occupied by Willie Ray Moore, the State must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt. [First, that the defendant intentionally discharged a shotgun into the residence of Willie Ray Moore, Jr.\u2019s father on Kenny Street, occupied by Willie Ray Moore, Jr. Second, that such property was occupied at the .time that the gun was discharged and third, that the defendant, Robert Lee Burris, acted willfully, wantonly which means that he had knowledge that the residence of Willie Ray Moore\u2019s father was occupied by one or more persons or that he had reasonable grounds to believe that said property might be occupied by one or more persons.\u201d\nThe foregoing instruction is almost identical to the instructions in State v. Williams, 21 N.C. App. 525, 204 S.E. 2d 864 (1974), and in State v. Tanner, 25 N.C. App. 251, 212 S.E. 2d 695 (1975), both of which were disapproved by this Court. Although the foregoing instruction was taken from \u201cPattern Jury Instructions for Criminal Cases, North Carolina, 208.90,\u201d we hold it erroneous because it equates knowledge of occupancy of the building with wilful and wanton conduct and vice versa. The charge as given condensed two separate elements of the offense into one. We pointed out in the Williams case and in the Tanner case that a correct charge would provide that the accused would be guilty if he intentionally, without legal justification or excuse, discharged a firearm into an occupied building with knowledge that the building was then occupied by one or more persons, or when the accused had reasonable grounds to believe that the building might be occupied by one or more persons. General Statute 14-34.1 was construed to the same effect in State v. Williams, 284 N.C. 67, 199 S.E. 2d 409 (1973).\nBecause of this error in the charge, defendant is entitled to a new trial on the charge of discharging a firearm into an occupied building. We note that the sentence imposed upon the conviction of this offense under G.S. 14-34.1 exceeds the maximum allowable by law for such conviction; however, since there will be a new trial, this error is of no consequence.\nWe find no error in case No. 74CR42047 wherein defendant was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon.\nNo error in case No. 74CR42047 (assault with a deadly weapon).\nNew trial in case No. 74CR42046 (discharging a firearm into an occupied building).\nJudges Britt and Morris concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "BROCK, Chief Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Attorney General Edmisten, by Associate Attorney Robert W. Kaylor, for the State.",
      "Barry M. StoricJc, for the defendant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ROBERT LEE BURRIS\nNo. 7526SC693\n(Filed 3 December 1975)\n1. Criminal Law \u00a7 26\u2014 assault with deadly weapon \u2014 discharging firearm into occupied building \u2014 two separate offenses\nWhere defendant fired a shot at an individual who was standing on the porch of the house, the victim fell back into the house which was occupied by several adults and several children, and defendant then fired the shotgun at the house two or three more times, there were two separate, punishable offenses committed: discharging a firearm into an occupied building and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.\n2. Weapons and Firearms\u2014 discharging firearm into occupied building \u2014 instruction improper\nIn a prosecution for discharging a firearm into an occupied building, the trial court\u2019s instruction which equated knowledge of occupancy of the building with wilful and wanton conduct was erroneous.\nAppeal by defendant from Briggs, Judge. Judgments entered 8 April 1975 in Superior Court, Mecklenburg County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 20 November 1975.\nIn case No. 74CR42046 defendant was charged in a bill of indictment with the felony of discharging a firearm into an occupied building. In case No. 74CR42047 defendant was charged with the felony of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. The cases were consolidated for trial. Defendant was found guilty of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon.\nAttorney General Edmisten, by Associate Attorney Robert W. Kaylor, for the State.\nBarry M. StoricJc, for the defendant."
  },
  "file_name": "0656-01",
  "first_page_order": 684,
  "last_page_order": 686
}