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August 4, 2010 in City
OxyContin robbery suspect dies of self-inflicted gunshot
This surveillance image shows a man police believe to be Nicholas “Niko” Burden, 31, pulling a gun at the Albertsons pharmacy at 57th and Regal, which was robbed of OxyContin on July 23. Police say Burden shot himself during a police chase following a robbery at Rite Aid on 29th Avenue on Aug. 3.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
A man who shot himself after a police chase Tuesday has died.
Nicholas T. “Niko” Burden, 31, worked as a car salesman and lived with his girlfriend and baby daughter before detectives say he began feeding an apparent OxyContin addiction by robbing pharmacies.
He was hospitalized Tuesday after police say he shot himself in a stolen Jeep he used to flee an armed robbery at the Rite Aid at 2929 E. 29th Ave. He was on life support today, and later died, according to a nursing supervisor at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Investigators say Burden stole the SUV from Barton Jeep in Spokane Valley several days ago. He’d been hired there but left with the vehicle during a break and never returned, officials said.
Spokane County sheriff’s Detective Tim Hines had been looking for Burden on Tuesday after developing probable cause to arrest him for a gunpoint OxyContin robbery at the Albertsons pharmacy at 57th Avenue and Regal Street on July 23.
Hines also suspects Burden was responsible for the July 9 gunpoint OxyContin robbery at the Albertsons at Trent Avenue and Argonne Road in Millwood.
“OxyContin is a particularly potent pain medication,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. “When people can’t buy it, they steal it. Some of them steal it out of Grandma’s medicine cabinet. Some of them steal it from pharmacies.”
A suspected getaway driver has been identified in the July 23 robbery, but police have not yet made an arrest. A Toyota Sequoia belonging to a member of Burden’s family was used in that robbery, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Police responding to an 8:38 p.m. gunpoint robbery at the South Hill Rite Aid spotted Burden in the Jeep and used a pursuit technique to spin out the vehicle at Fifth Avenue and Sherman Street, where Burden shot himself, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case with the Washington State Patrol per the Spokane Police Department’s standard protocol. No officers were injured Tuesday, and none fired a gun, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators announced last week that one “very dangerous” man was believed responsible for the two gunpoint OxyContin robberies at Albertsons and released surveillance photos and a photo of the Sequoia.
Burden was arrested in May on three counts of possession of stolen property, but no formal charges were filed until Tuesday. Burden had been scheduled to be arraigned on the charges May 12, but prosecutors didn’t file charges and Burden didn’t show up for the hearing, according to court records.
The charges stem from Burden allegedly leasing a TV, surround-sound system and video game console from a leasing company, then pawning the property and not repaying the company.
Burden had a criminal history in Pierce County and has listed his address on traffic tickets as being in Tacoma, although Reagan said he’s lived in the Spokane area for about a year. Burden lived with his 24-year-old girlfriend in Colbert last fall, but she filed a protection order against him in November.
In court documents, the woman wrote that Burden worked in sales at Spokane Chrysler. She sought the protection order after Burden allegedly threatened her after she confronted him about drug use.
Burden’s last known address was an apartment in the 8900 block of East Liberty Avenue, about half a mile from the scene of the July 9 robbery.
Human trafficking suspects released 
JayNW on August 04 at 11:16 a.m.
Well, that will save a lot of time and money not having to prosecute…sad for his family though.
mikewsu on August 04 at 11:29 a.m.
Sad for everyone.
Could this guy even get help for his addiction if he wanted to? Besides being jailed. He obviously thought he had no options left.
I don’t think our “War on Drugs” is working…
dougfresh on August 04 at 11:35 a.m.
Oxy (synthetic heroin) addiction is an ugly thing….
Itsgodswill on August 04 at 11:42 a.m.
People can get help if they want it, the only problem is that in a drug induced state, most people with addictions don’t want the help. It’s definitely a sad thing when someone chooses death over getting help and/or being jailed for a few years.
TWOSTROKE on August 04 at 11:43 a.m.
Was he an addict or was he stealing to sell? Anyhow it’s a sad deal all around. Another young person dead due to drugs. May you R.I.P. young man.
Itsgodswill on August 04 at 1:13 p.m.
I’ve personally never known someone who sold it who wasn’t also doing it. It’s such a high cost drug that people sometimes sell it in order to make sure they can afford it. Im not a drug expert by any means, but I have known a lot of people who have been into oxycontin or other high strength opiates.
bdr on August 04 at 4:12 p.m.
Dang he should have shot himself before the oxy……!
better memory’s last longer.
eagleproducer on August 05 at 9:54 a.m.
Grandma’s got Oxy in her medicine cabinet? You have to love our medical system and the unethical doctors who prescribe Oxy for pain management.
Why isn’t the finger of complicity ever leveled at the drug company who manufactures a dangerously addictive substance that FORMS A CLEAR THREAT TO COMMUNITIES! Instead of being handed subpoenas to answer for their negligence they get patents to hold exclusive rights at ruining lives while raking in billions.
I would like to begin organization of a boycott of the pharmacies/grocery stores who continue to stock Oxycontin. It is irresponsible to place customers in the danger such a drug poses to their safety. Do you really want to be in a grocery store and have your children witness an event like this? Stop selling heroin over the counter and acting like it won’t cause other problems!
ccidor on August 06 at 1:32 p.m.
this was a good man with a great heart! proof of what drug addiction can do to anyone.
roondog on August 06 at 3:16 p.m.
When does personal responsibility trump the “evil drug companies”
How is this drug “a clear threat to our communities”? What community would that be? The community of lowlife druggies and criminals???
My father was prescribed OxyContin and it was a wonder drug that eased his suffering while he battle bone cancer for years.
Please get your priorities straight.
JimReierson on August 07 at 1:41 p.m.
I recently submitted a letter to the editor which was published July 25, 2010, entitled ‘No leniency for robbers’, which discussed the on-going robberies of pharmacists at area drug stores located inside busy grocery stores, where customers are present usually, and unfortunately, security is often lax. I attended a Republican Forum at the Quality Inn in Millwood in late June, although I had not been invited, nor was Mr. Malone, another candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, running as a Democrat. I am running for Prosecutor as Law & Order Party candidate. At this forum, I was able to ask a question on the failure of Mr. Tucker to charge arrested suspects within the required 72 hour period, thus allowing them to get back on the streets to often commit other crimes or flee the area. (This does not happen in Kootenai County, where I have worked for over 10 years - thus making that county safer for families to raise their families.
During the questioning of the three Republicans, Mr. Bugbee was asked about drug crimes and jail capacity. His answer was that the people (taking or stealing?) Oxycontin pills at the drug stores were addicts and needed drug treatment, not jail incarceration. Both Mr. Tucker and Mr. Stevens had the opportunity to comment on Mr. Bugbee’s answer. What is astounding about Mr. Bugbee’s answer is he never used the word robbery, or guns or other weapons. You would have thought he was talking about shoplifting an over the counter drug! These crimes are very serious, they are Robberies!!! The perpetrators are using guns, knives, and putting lives at risk. They are not all addicts. Mr. Bugbee’s response was typical defense attorney rhetoric- find some excuse to justity the crime, and help a dangerous person avoid having to take responsiblity. In the letter to the editor, I recounted how I personally know one pharmacist who works at one of the Albertson’s stores and was robbed in January 2009. She was working by herself on a Sunday morning, when the robber appeared, all masked but she noticed he had gray hair - so she believed he was older. He knew where the cameras were, and avoided their range. He demanded all the OxyContin in the pharmacy - about 15 bottles, around 4 to 500 pills, which can bring anywhere from $30-60 a pill on the street. This is a narcotic - very powerful. He threatened her with a gun, and then tied her up afterwards with a warning not to make a sound for several minutes so he could leave the store. He has not been caught, but she believes he also robbed her other pharmacist 2 months later at the same store. She has not been able to get updates from the police on the progress of the investigation. I have made an effort to coordinate with the police to assist her.
These dangerous robbers need to be caught, prosecuted to the fullest extent, and imprisoned. Even if an addict, they are a threat to the public, and for deterence purposes, to send message to other potential robbers, put away. I will do that once elected.
We do not need defense friendly elected prosecutors.
i have given the S.Review the names of this lady (pharmacist) and two others who feel strong prosecution and imprisonment in order. The voters need to know what the candidates for this important office really think!
I am a career prosecutor, with more experience than the others (obviously including Tucker - who tries nothing and is putting citizens at risk in Spokane county).
Please vote for Jim Reierson, Law and Order candidate!!!
JimReierson on August 07 at 1:45 p.m.
To learn more about my experience, education,etc., please google: Spokane County Elections, then click on voter guide, then click on County Wide. I am the most experienced candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, and am the People’s Candiate, as Law & Order candidate.
maddiewalker on August 10 at 8:09 a.m.
“People can get help if they want it, the only problem is that in a drug induced state, most people with addictions don’t want the help. It’s definitely a sad thing when someone chooses death over getting help and/or being jailed for a few years”
So true. Sad outcome for the entire family.
Scoutster on August 10 at 3:19 p.m.
Reierson..
Go bother someone else. This isn’t an ad board.
Scoutster on August 10 at 3:22 p.m.
roondog..
yes, it probably helped with the pain. I’m guessing your father has since passed, and for that I am sorry.
But my guess is that he would have died a drug addict—that is, he would not have been able to get off the oxy without significant withdrawal symptoms.
Keep that in mind as you are judging others.
Ridings10 on August 11 at 1:28 p.m.
JimReierson,
Thanks for coming on here. The one question I’d like an answer to is this, and it should have been a question to all candidates. Since it’s not being done now, How will you get all criminals charged within 72 hours ? Will the current budget restraints effect your ability to do this? A somewhat detailed answer would be a nice break from the typical “we’ll do stuff” answer. Thanks!!! And good luck.