Journalists React to KTLA Anchor Chris Burrous’ Death at Age 43

Chris Burrous (Credit: KTLA)

Colleagues and fans are speaking out on the passing of KTLA news anchor Chris Burrous.

The heartfelt tributes poured in after Burrous died Thursday following a medical emergency at a motel in Glendale, Calif. An unidentified man called police from a Days Inn around 1:14 p.m., stating that the person he was with had passed out and was possibly not breathing, as Urban Hollywood 411 reported.

Once Glendale firefighters arrived on the scene, they administered CPR and transported him to a nearby hospital where he died.

The journalist was 43.

Following the news of Burrous’ death, colleagues and viewers took to Twitter to pay tribute to his life.

KTLA reporter and anchor Lynette Romero, who shared the weekend desk with Burrous, posted a photo of their last time together.

“There are no words. When we took this picture during our show I had no idea it would our last time together,” she captioned the shot. “You made me laugh until I cried. My tears now are for your sweet little girl, your wife Mai and your dear parents. We will miss you so…”

KTLA anchor Sam Rubin wrote: “Here’s the thing. This is awful. Heartbreaking and horrible. What Chris Burrous did was connect – with all of us, every day, and most especially on the weekends. He deeply loved his wife and his daughter; and all of you who watched him. A large community is in mourning tonight.”

“Shocked by this, Chris Burrous was a mentor of mine and helped me out a lot since my internship at KTLA,” KSEE24 reporter Joe Moeller penned. “He is a former Fresno news anchor as well, he will be greatly missed… the weekend show at @KTLA won’t be the same. RIP.”

https://twitter.com/joemoeller44/status/1078635668463599616

“This is so heartbreaking. Our wonderful colleague, Chris Burrous, has passed away,” reporter John Fenoglio said. “We will miss him dearly. Our hearts go out to his family.”

Burrous’ longtime viewers also expressed their condolences, with many fans reminiscing about his popular “Burrous’ Bites” food segment.

“Every Sunday morning my dad and I would wake up and turn on KTLA just to watch Burrous Bites and see what place Chris Burrous recommended that weekend,” one person tweeted. “To think that this man will no longer be a part of the show is really devastating. Rest In Peace Chris Burrous.”

Another person chimed in: “Such a smart, funny guy. Loved him on the weekends. My favorite pieces were the Burrous Bites, especially when he brought his daughter along. RIP.”

The newscaster’s cause of death is undetermined at this time, but Glendale police Sgt. Dan Suttles said the matter is “being investigated as a possible overdose.”

Speaking on the sensitive nature of the case, Suttles said, according to CBS Los Angeles: “That was something that we recognized right away, because, you know, everybody knows Chris.”

He added: “So we knew that this was gonna be something that was gonna be a very sensitive matter. We’re waiting for a toxicology report to come back from the coroner’s office. Until we get that we won’t be able to tell what the cause of death was. It is being investigated as a possible overdose.”

Burrous leaves behind his wife, Mai Do-Burrous, and 9-year-old daughter, Isabella.