The serial killer who terrorized the region by shooting and killing five people was killed by Gaston County police officers Monday morning, officials said.

Patrick Burris, 41, was shot to death by officers investigating a burglary complaint at a home in Gaston County, about 30 miles from where the killing spree started June 27. Bullets in his gun matched those that killed residents in and around Gaffney over six days last week, said State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd.

A career criminal paroled just two months ago, Burris lived on Chambers Lane in Vale, in western Lincoln County, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Burris had a long rap sheet filled with charges such as armed robbery, larceny, forgery and breaking and entering from numerous states, including Florida, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

He had been paroled from a North Carolina prison in April after serving nearly eight years.

"Look at this," Lloyd said, waiving a stapled copy of Burris' criminal record during a press conference in Gaffney Monday night. "This is like 25 pages. At some point the criminal justice system is going to need to explain why this suspect was out on the street."

Evidence collected at 725 Dallas- Spencer Mountain Road led to the arrest. The gun used in the officerrelated shooting was the same weapon used in the Gaffney killings, Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton said.

One victim's belongings were also found on Burris. The evidence left no doubt Burris was the killer, police said, investigators still had no idea why he did it. The full scope of the case could take weeks to gather, Blanton said.

Gaffney farmer Sam Howell, 61, was among dozens of people from Cherokee County who came to the news conference where authorities identified Burris.

"My prayers were answered. He got what he deserved," Howell said. "He scared the hell out of everyone. I guess we can feel better, but we've lost some of our innocence."

The mystery ended in Gastonia early Monday after a couple called police to report a suspicious sport utility vehicle in their neighborhood. Terry and Mike Valentine said they saw a man they did not know at the house across the street. Later, Terry Valentine said she saw two people she recognized with the man. Officers went inside the house and Terry Valentine heard someone yell "put it down." Then she heard gunshots.

Gaston County police said the other two people were in custody, but did not indicate whether they were facing charges, Monday night. Officers in Cherokee County said Monday night they were not ready to discuss a possible reward offered in the case.

The Gaffney killings happened in a 10-mile area over six days. A peach farmer was killed June 27, an 83-year-old woman and her daughter were found bound and shot four days later, and the next day a father and his teen daughter were shot in their family's furniture store.

The investigation isn't over. Blanton said investigators will trace the suspect's recent activities and try to figure out if he has killed other people in other places.

"Now we have someone we can focus on," Blanton said. "We want to know where he's been the last year or so."

Officials hope the announcement calms the fears of 54,000 people in Cherokee County, known for its peach orchards and mills.

"This information in the press conference is immediately being held to restore the peace, dignity and tranquility to citizens that so desperately deserve such," said SLED Assistant Director Tim James.

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The man who shot five people in Gaffney, S.C., was Patrick Tracy Burris, 41, of Lincoln County.

Burris has a long criminal history beginning with blackmail in 1989 and ending with convictions for being a habitual felon, felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering in 2001. He was convicted of crimes in both Rockingham and Alamance counties. Burris was released from prison April 29 and was supposed to be on parole until Jan. 24, 2010, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.

His current location was listed as Lincoln County. His sentencing history also includes convictions of driving with a revoked license, forgery, common law uttering and larceny, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.