Beloved News Anchor Found Dead From Possible Overdose In Los Angeles

A beloved Los Angeles news anchor is dead following a possible drug overdose at a hotel.

Chris Burrous, 43, who worked as an anchor for the KTLA 5 Morning News team, was found unresponsive on Thursday afternoon at a hotel in town, according to a news release issued by the Glendale Police Department.

Police said they received a call from man that told them a companion had passed out and was potentially not breathing. First responders arrived at the Days Inn in Glendale to find a “man down inside a room suffering from a medical emergency,” according to the release. “The man was not breathing and CPR was administered as paramedics prepared to transport him to the hospital.”

Police say the man, later identified as Burrous, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

“The original call to the Glendale Police Department indicated the deceased had possibly overdosed,” police said. However, an official cause of death has not yet been declared and the investigation into the anchor’s death is ongoing.

Glendale police Sgt. Dan Suttles told KTLA that the man Burrous was with was a friend, adding that the man “quite honestly did a good job of trying to render aid.”

The anchor is survived by his wife and 9-year-old daughter.

Burrous began working with KTLA in 2011. He anchored on the weekends and covered news during the weekdays.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burrous family. Chris loved sharing the stories of Southern California and connecting with our viewers,” the station said in a joint statement. “He will be remembered as a great journalist and a wonderful friend to many. He brought a kindness to his work and will be deeply missed by the entire KTLA family.”

The station’s reporters and personnel have also taken to social media to post tributes to news team member, remembering him for his work ethic and for his kindness.

“Yesterday morning we were on air together, laughing. Less than 6 hours later, our colleague and friend was found unresponsive in a motel. His loss has broken our hearts,” Christina Pascucci, who had co-anchored KTLA’s Early Edition on Thursday morning with Burrous, wrote in an Instagram post.

“I miss him so much,” KTLA Meteorologist Liberte Chan said during Friday's newscast. “I’m sorry I don’t have the words to express exactly how I feel but he was more than just a colleague, he was one of my best friends here and I’m just so heartbroken over the loss of him.”

[Photo Credit: Instagram]