The investigation into the murder of an Illinois bar owner, reportedly killed in an “execution-style” attack, has resulted in the arrest of a suspect described as a “monster.” The man, identified as Julius E. Burks Jr., 47, was taken into custody on Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Courtney M. Drysdale, according to the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department.
Drysdale was shot just before noon on Monday inside The Line, the local bar she owned in rural Momence, situated near the Illinois-Indiana border. Authorities stated that she was at the bar when Burks entered, brandished a firearm, and demanded cash. Although Drysdale complied with his demands, investigators stated he shot her twice regardless.
The sheriff’s office reported that surveillance footage captured the assailant wearing a bright yellow jacket, hat, and glasses, and leaving the scene in a white BMW. After the attack, he reportedly attempted to take a video recording device from the bar before fleeing to Indiana.
Burks was apprehended about 26 hours after the incident while leaving his home in Hammond, Indiana. Sheriff Mike Downey expressed gratitude to the public for their help and to the various law enforcement agencies that played a role in the capture. The sheriff’s office noted, “We hope the capture of this monster will bring some form of peace to Courtney’s family, friends, and community.”
Records show Burks has a lengthy criminal history, including a recent incident in December when he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house. At the time of Drysdale’s murder, he was out on bail for that case. Court documents reveal that, in 2014, he pleaded guilty to assault, for which he was placed on supervised release for a year—an obligation he fulfilled. Notably, as a teenager, Burks pled guilty to two counts of felony murder in 1995 and was sentenced to 37 years, though specifics about his involvement in that case remain unclear.
Currently, Burks is being held in Indiana, waiting for an extradition hearing to Illinois.
