Union County deputies assisted in the search for a Cherokee County serial killer, including checking out local reports of sightings of a man resembling a composite drawing of the suspect.

Sheriff David Taylor said deputies — as many as four at a time — worked Cherokee County, running down leads and handing out flyers with a composite drawing of a man believed to be responsible for killing five people.

“We had been helping them out since last Wednesday after the second set of murders,” Taylor said. “Some names came up as potential suspects who might be from Union and we helped them run down tips. We’ve been attending the briefings, helping in whatever capacity they need. Their manpower was pretty much worn out. We filled in taking calls and giving their people some rest.”

A man shot to death early Monday in Dallas, N.C., Patrick Tracy Burris, has been identified as the serial killer. His five victims in Cherokee County included a 15-year-old girl.

The Union County deputies joined a multi jurisdictional task force of around 100 officers who assisted Cherokee County deputies and Gaffney Police. Also assisting were Spartanburg County officers, officers from bordering counties in North Carolina, Highway Patrolmen, SLED and FBI agents.

The awful crimes so close to Union County caused local residents to be on edge. Taylor said this past weekend there were two reports that a man resembling the composite drawing of the suspect was seen at Enmark on Thomson Boulevard and Kelly One Stop on the Jonesville-Lockhart Highway.

Taylor said he is glad Union County could offer help and he thinks if the tables were turned, Cherokee County would return the favor.

“Nobody in this day and time is immune to something like this,” Taylor said. “We are trying to be of help in whatever capacity we can be.”