Cyrano Marks

Case record: Cyrano Marks

Status and outcome

Cyrano Marks committed suicide by shooting himself the same day after shooting a woman with a handgun and then shooting the woman's four children and her sister. Seven people were found shot dead in an Atlanta home (Philadelphia Daily News July 13, 1999).

Background

Atlanta killer Cyrano Marks had a history of domestic violence. Deleane Briskey's home had seen violence before the massacre that only her young son would survive. Police had been called to the single-story house four times in recent months, twice after fights between Ms. Briskey's boyfriend and her ex-husband.

The offence

Cyrano Marks drove to the house of his female companion and shot her with a handgun. He then shot the woman's four children and her sister before shooting himself.

The victims included Deleane Briskey and her sister, and four of her children.

Investigation and police activity

Police investigated whether one person killed the others and himself. Police did not release the name of the boy who survived, and police stayed outside the house for more than an hour after they arrived because a dog was barking inside, raising safety concerns. Once inside, police found bodies throughout the house.

Deputy Chief C.B. Jackson recounted Santonio Lucas’s account to reporters.

Arrest / capture

No arrest or capture was described.

Trial

No trial information was provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeals information was provided.

Outcome

Seven people were found shot to death in an Atlanta home. The only survivor was an 11-year-old boy who hid in a closet for hours after he was wounded.

Aftermath

Santonio Lucas told police his mother's boyfriend, Cyrano Marks, dragged him through the house as he killed. Marks then turned the gun on himself, authorities say.

Santonio was in a stable condition and alert at the hospital. Dr. Leon Haley said:

"He’s interacted fairly well with the physicians and nursing staff of the emergency department, answering questions appropriately, given the things that he’s gone through."

Santonio was scheduled for surgery later Wednesday at Grady Memorial Hospital, said his uncle, Dwight Lucas. Dr. Toni McLaurin said doctors hoped that after surgery early next week he would soon be able to move the elbow again:

"It will never be a normal elbow, but we should be able to restore function,"

Dwight Lucas said Santonio and his 10-year-old sister, Jalisa, who wasn't home at the time of the shootings, would live with their father, David Lucas. Mayor Bill Campbell visited Santonio at the hospital and said:

"I just tried to reassure him that we care about him,"

Marks' sister, Sharon Leon, apologized for her brother's actions on WSB-TV:

"I can't imagine him taking the life of innocent kids,"
"I just can't explain it .... I just want the families of the victims to know that I apologize on behalf of my family."

Timeline

• Around 6:45 a.m. — Eugene Broadus heard shots and assumed they were firecrackers.
• Around 2:30 p.m. — Santonio left his hiding spot and later knocked on Eugene Broadus’s door; his wife told him what happened.

People involved

Perpetrator

• Cyrano Marks — boyfriend of Deleane Briskey; committed suicide by shooting himself the same day; had a history of domestic violence.

Victims

• Deleane Briskey — shot and killed; boyfriend was Cyrano Marks.
• Craig DeCarlo Briskey, 15 — shot and killed.
• Tasha Briskey, 16 — shot and killed.
• David Antonio Lucas Jr., 13 — shot and killed.
• Antuan Lucas, 9 — shot and killed.
• Essie Jo Hugley, 37 — Briskey's sister who had just moved in a few months ago; shot and killed.

Survivor

• Santonio Lucas, 11 — the only survivor; hid in a closet for hours after being shot in the elbow; told police Marks dragged him through the house as he killed; played dead then huddled in a closet for eight hours before running next door to the home of Eugene Broadus.

Relatives and named community members

• Dwight Lucas — uncle of Santonio Lucas; said Santonio was doing well Wednesday and would have surgery later Wednesday.
• David Lucas — father of Santonio Lucas and Jalisa Lucas; would live with their father, David Lucas.
• Jalisa — Santonio’s 10-year-old sister; was not home at the time of the shootings.
• Eugene Broadus — heard the shots at 6:45 a.m. and assisted when Santonio knocked around 2:30 p.m.
• Dwight Lucas — uncle of Santonio Lucas; provided statements about surgery and recovery.
• Mayor Bill Campbell — visited Santonio at the hospital and provided reassurance.
• Dr. Leon Haley — commented on Santonio’s interaction in the emergency department.
• Dr. Toni McLaurin — discussed surgery and expected elbow function.
• Deputy Chief C.B. Jackson — recounted Santonio’s account to reporters and described the sequence of events.
• Georgia Hall — neighbor who was told by the boy about who shot people in the house.
• Betty Fuller — neighbor who said the boy’s mother lived in the house with her sister and five children and described the boy.
• Gikeivia Johnson — cousin of the family; expressed devastation.
• Sharon Leon — Marks' sister; apologized for Marks’ actions.
• Eugene Broadus’s wife — told him what happened when Santonio arrived at the door around 2:30 p.m.
• Deleane Briskey's ex-husband — involved in prior fights with Ms. Briskey's boyfriend (Cyrano Marks).

Victim account and statements

Georgia Hall said the boy told her:

"He said: ‘My stepfather shot my mama, my auntie, my brother, everyone’ … We could not believe what had happened. We just called the police and sat with the boy."

Betty Fuller said:

"He was just as sweet as he could be, and God had to be with him for him to hide,"

Gikeivia Johnson said:

"I’m devastated. It don’t make no sense."

Eugene Broadus said:

"He said, `Would you help me? My stepdaddy just killed my mom, my auntie and all my family,"'

Eugene Broadus also said:

"He was just sucking his thumb the whole time."

Deputy Chief C.B. Jackson said:

"They all tried to run, but none were able to escape the house,"

Method and sequence of events (as described by survivor and officials)

Police said the shootings happened after a breakup upset the perpetrator. Santonio told police Marks was angry that she wanted to end their relationship. Santonio said Marks herded Ms. Briskey, her sister and four children into the master bedroom, but the family scattered when he brandished a pistol. Santonio said Marks dragged him from room to room as he shot the family. Santonio managed to break free and run into a closet.

Santonio said Marks found him, placed a pillow in front of the boy's face and pulled the trigger. The weapon jammed. Marks stepped back, fiddled with the gun and fired again; the bullet smashed through the boy's elbow. Santonio fell to the ground and played dead. Moments later, he heard another shot. Santonio feared the killer was still alive, so he huddled in a closet for eight hours before running next door to Eugene Broadus.