Burlington Reporter

The Burlington community is mourning the loss of a helpful neighbor, Tracy Brown, who was gunned down in a Burlington front yard recently.

"If you needed the grass cut, or you needed something done, if you could find him, if he was there at the time, he would do it,” neighbor David Foster told WFMY News 2.

Police officers found Brown, 54, in a front yard on Foster Street. He had been shot and was declared dead at the scene. The homicide has his neighbors asking why and calling for the shooter to be caught.

Brown’s neighborliness went beyond doing work for people. Jackie Ramseur recalled a time he helped her during a medical emergency.

"I have MS, and I remember one time I had an episode and I couldn't get up. And the rescue squad came and they weren't able to get me up, and so my aunt found Tracy up the street because he used to live right up the street,” Ramseur told WFMY News 2. “He came in the house to pick me up and I was like, ‘Tracy, I'm not a lightweight' and he said, 'Trust me Jackie, if I can pick up bricks, I can pick you up.’”

When he was looking for odd jobs, people could often find him at Ken’s Quickie Mart, a nearby convenience store.

"This is where he used to get his work from,” Tony Pulliam told WFMY News 2. “People would come and he would do work for everybody. He was a hard-working guy." 

His acquaintances are hoping tips will come in to help police find out who is responsible for Brown's death.

"Whoever did this needs to be found, because that's wrong. I mean, he is a squared-away guy. He's like a pillar of the neighborhood, and they need to catch whoever did this,” Foster said, according to WFMY News 2.

If you have any information, police suggest calling the Burlington Police Department at 336-229-3500. If you would like to remain anonymous, call Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100 or by using the mobile app P3 Tips.