Tampa Radio: Talker Shannon Burke Sued For Assault

Happier Times

The former wife of Tampa-Orlando radio personality Shannon Burke is suing him claiming he intentionally shot her.

Catherine A. Crossman, is asking for unspecified but triple damages.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, her suit comes four years after Burke shot her in the head in the bedroom of their home. He had worked himself into a drunken rage that night, April 30, 2009, because his own dog had gotten out of the yard.  He got a handgun, tried to shoot her dog - a King Charles spaniel - and when the gun wouldn't fire, grabbed another and pulled the trigger.

The bullet struck the dog's leg, kept traveling and grazed the right side of his wife's head. Both have recovered.


Burke, 47, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of animal cruelty and opening fire in a building and was sentenced to six months in jail plus three years of probation.  In criminal court, she testified that Burke had fired by accident.

After the shooting in 2009, Burke was fired by Clear Channel station WTKS Real Radio 104.1, where he did mid-days.

The Sentinel reports he was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon. During his criminal case, he acknowledged that he is bi-polar and, after the shooting, underwent intensive alcohol abuse treatment.

Crossman is seeking alimony, saying she is unable to work.

Burke is now co-hosting the Bubba The Love Sponge show which airs on Cox Media-owned WHPT The Bone in Tampa.  He also hosts an afternoon shift at radioIO.com.