WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/20/96

08:25-01

7Amherst-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-12
GRAPHIC=Murder

A fight in Amherst ends in a shooting and the first murder in the town in nearly a decade.
Steve Smallshaw has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Neighbors say
SUPER=03-Amherst/Last Night; :00
SUPER=01-Invest. Jeff Rowe/Amherst Town Police; :14
SUPER=@ssm2; 1:06
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=News7, Amherst.

(( Neighbors say they heard a fight then gunshots outside their homes in this Amherst mobile home park late Monday evening.
When police arrived minutes later, one man was already dead... he'd been shot several times.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:59:50
IN Q=Approximately
((INVEST. JEFF ROWE/AMHERST TOWN POLICE: APPROXIMATELY 10:26 P.M., THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO SHOTS FIRED AT THE AMHERST TOWN COURT MOBILE HOME PARK IN THE TOWN OF AMHERST. UPON ARRIVAL, WE FOUND IT WAS MORE THAN JUST SHOTS FIRED, IT WAS A SHOOTING.))
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=was a shooting.

The suspect in the shooting surrendered to police at the scene without incident.
Authorities are still trying to confirm both his name and the name of the victim... both are of Mexican descent and police aren't sure whether they are legal residents.
A semi- automatic rifle used in the shooting also was recovered.
The suspect has given a statement to police, along with a possible motive.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:00:36
IN Q=It apparently
((ROWE: IT APPARENTLY OCCURRED, A LARCENY OF SOME SORT OCCURRED IN ALBEMARLE COUNTY AND IT BLED OVER TO THE TRAILER PARK HERE.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=park here.

The suspect could make his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
Police say this was the first murder the town of Amherst has seen in nine years.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Amherst.))

7Lilly-Barker

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-114
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

Three men accused of killing a Virginia Tech student last year were in court yesterday.
Charges of murder, abduction, carjacking, robbery and firearms violations were certified against them.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./December 5;

Benjamin Lilly allegedly shot and KILLED 22 year- old Alexander DeFilippis after STEALING his car and kidnapping him in December.
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Yesterday; :08

Lilly, his brother Mark and friend, Gary Barker, then allegedly held up two convenience stores in Giles County.
The robbery victims testified that Gary Barker threatened them with the gun that was later determined to be the murder weapon.
Ben Lilly's lawyers say Barker also could've committed the murder.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:03:24
IN Q=
((CHRIS TUCK/BEN LILLY'S LAWYER: THESE EVENTS HAPPENED IN RAPID SUCCESSION. AND IT'S APPARENT THAT MR. BARKER HAD THE FIREARM THAT WAS USED IN THE MURDER IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. ))
SOT 7:11:49
((SKIP SCHWAB/ASST. MONTGOMERY CO. PROSECUTOR: THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY HAD THE GUN IN GILES COUNTY SOME HALF AN HOUR OR MORE LATER AFTER THE APPARENT TIME OF THE KILLING DOES NOT MEAN OR INDICATE ANYTHING ABOUT WHO HAD THE GUN AT THE TIME OF THE KILLING.))
SUPER=01-Chris Tuck/Ben Lilly's Lawyer;
SUPER=01-Skip Schwab/Asst. Montgomery Co. Prosecutor; :10
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=at the time of the killing
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Mark Lilly and Barker have both blamed Ben Lilly for the murder.
But Ben Lilly told police the two saw him hitchhiking and picked him up AFTER the murder.
(----------------)

7Giles-Drowning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tho
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=NONE

The search continues tomorrow for a teenage girl who plunged into the New River from a bridge two days ago.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pembroke/Yesterday;

Divers will look for the body of the fourteen- year-old girl who apparently jumped off the Commissary Hill Bridge Sunday.
Poor visibility hampered their efforts before the search was halted due to darkness.
Meanwhile-- the Giles County School System has implemented counseling services for students and faculty having difficulty with the girls disappearance.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:41:39-2:41:54
IN Q=We have already
((RON WHETZEL/DIR. OF CURRICULUM, GILES CO.; WE HAVE ALREADY PROCEEDED WITH BRIEFING THE FACULTY AND INFORMING THE STUDENTS OF WHAT WE DO KNOW, WHICH IS LIMITED AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE CONTACTED NEW RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING COUNSELORS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS NEEDED.))
SUPER=01-Ron Whetzel/Dir. of Curriculum, Giles Co.;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=teachers as needed.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

The witness that was with the girl when she jumped returned to the bridge yesterday to recreate the scene for police.
The missing girl's name has not been released.

7Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Taking a look now at the forecast - expect periods of rain today with highs in the mid 40s.
Tonight will be cloudy with drizzles and fog.
Lows will be around 40s degrees.
Periods of rain continue tonight, along with dense fog.
Lows will be in the 40s.

55Trailer-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPEedit of #96-12
GRAPHIC=murder

Amherst authorties are investigating the town's first murder in nearly ten years.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Amherst/Last Night;

Residents at the Amherst Town Court Mobile Home Park reported hearing gunshots shortly before eleven o'clock last night.
When police arrived that found the body of man who had been shot several times.
The suspect in the shooting surrendered to police at the scene.
Authorities are still trying to confirm his name and the name of the victim.

Both are of Mexican descent and police are not sure if they are legal residents.
(----------------)

55Halifax-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-7
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation

Meantime, Halifax County authorities are still looking for the gunman responsible for killing a store owner during a robbery.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Halifax Co./January 26;

The crime occurred three weeks ago at Bill's Country Store in the community of Alton.
Authorities believe 59- year old Bill Maxie was shot twice just minutes after opening for business.
Investigators say a lack of evidence has made it difficult to pin down a suspect.
Leads have also tapered off.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=You have
((JEFF OAKES/HALIFAX CO. SHERIFF: YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS SHOT OUTSIDE OF AN ESTABLISHMENT THEN THEY GO INSIDE AND TAKE THE CASH REGISTER AND GO OUT THE DOOR, THEY DIDN'T STAY THERE AND THE QUICKNESS OF THE CASE TOOK AWAY A LOT OF EVIDENCE. ))
SUPER=@Oakes; :00
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=a lot of evidence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Oakes is hoping a 5-thousand dollar cash reward for information will result in new leads.
Half of that money was donated by the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.
The rest came from the local Crime Stoppers Organization and community donations.
(----------------)

55Augusta-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=none

A teenage girl was killed last night in a single vehicle wreck in Augusta County.
Sixteen year old Angela Marie Karr of Craigsville was a passenger in a car traveling southbound on route 42 in Augusta Springs.
Authorities say the driver lost control, crossed into the northbound lane and was struck by oncoming traffic.
Karr died at the scene.

55ADAPT

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-9
GRAPHIC=Welfare in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Social Services is the focus of a state police investigation.
The probe was initiated by the Allen Administration.
As Ellen Qualls reports the investigation hints that criminal activity may be at the root of the failed ADAPT welfare computer system we first told you about three weeks ago.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Taxpayers have
SUPER=@file; :00
SUPER=@Allen; :06
SUPER=@FILE; :22
SUPER=01-Bud Phillips/(D) Russell Co.; :37
SUPER=@Ellen1; :52
SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hall/(D) Richmond; 1:00
RUNS=1:15
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( Taxpayers have already spent 17- million dollars on technology that won't work in the long run.
SOT 12:56:18
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: WHETHER THERE'S ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS HERE REMAIN TO BE SEEN. WHETHER I PERSONALLY INSTITUTED OR NOT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.))
RUNS=:11

But the Governor admits the State Police and Attorney General's office are investigating.
Culprits may date back to the Wilder Administration, but one obvious target is Carol Brunty -- Allen's commissioner of Social Services who resigned last month with no explanation.
SOT 12:57:15
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: WHOEVER MAY BE OR MAY NOT BE A TARGET OF THE INVESTIGATION I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO GET INTO.))
RUNS=:05

sot 13:16:23
((DEL. BUD PHILLIPS/D-RUSSELL CO.: WELL AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU WHO IT'S GOING TO IMPLICATE. ALL I KNOW IS THE INVESTIGATION WILL LEAD TO WHOMEVER WAS INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE. AND WITHOUT QUESTION IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOONDOGGLES THAT I'VE SEEN IN GOVERNMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN SIX YEARS. THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON ON THAT ISSUE.))
RUNS=:15

But lawmakers want their own answers.
They've asked the independent Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission to work alongside the State Police.
SOT 13:18:23
((DEL. FRANK HALL: THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THINGS LIKE THIS BEFORE. AND WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE AN ASSET IN ANY INVESTIGATION.))
RUNS=:08

Meanwhile, lawmakers are budgeting 150-thousand new dollars to start to find a fix.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

55Weather

pitts-murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=murder

Pittslyvania County authorities are investigating a double homicide.
The victims were found in a vacant store lot on route 8-41 at about four this morning.
A third person was found injured and taken to the hospital.
Police do not have a motive or any suspects at this point.
A News 7 crew is at the scene and we'll have more information for you on News 7 at Noon.

8Amherst-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-12
GRAPHIC=Murder

A late night shooting in Amherst results in the town's first murder in nearly a decade.
Steve Smallshaw has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Neighbors say
SUPER=03-Amherst/Last Night; :00
SUPER=01-Invest. Jeff Rowe/Amherst Town Police; :14
SUPER=@ssm2; 1:06
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=News7, Amherst.
(( Neighbors say they heard a fight then gunshots outside their homes in this Amherst mobile home park late Monday evening.
When police arrived minutes later, one man was already dead... he'd been shot several times. ((INVEST. JEFF ROWE/AMHERST TOWN POLICE: APPROXIMATELY 10:26 P.M., THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO SHOTS FIRED AT THE AMHERST TOWN COURT MOBILE HOME PARK IN THE TOWN OF AMHERST. UPON ARRIVAL, WE FOUND IT WAS MORE THAN JUST SHOTS FIRED, IT WAS A SHOOTING.))
The suspect in the shooting surrendered to police at the scene without incident.
Authorities are still trying to confirm both his name and the name of the victim... both are of Mexican descent and police aren't sure whether they are legal residents.
A semi- automatic rifle used in the shooting also was recovered.
The suspect has given a statement to police, along with a possible motive. ((ROWE: IT APPARENTLY OCCURRED, A LARCENY OF SOME SORT OCCURRED IN ALBEMARLE COUNTY AND IT BLED OVER TO THE TRAILER PARK HERE.))
The suspect could make his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
Police say this was the first murder the town of Amherst has seen in nine years.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Amherst.))

8Lilly-Barker

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-114
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

The three men accused of killing a Virginia Tech student last year during a two county crime spree are blaming each other for the murder.
The trio appeared in court yesterday to be formally charged with murder, abduction, carjacking, robbery and firearms violations were certified against them.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./December 5;

Benjamin Lilly allegedly shot and KILLED 22 year- old Alexander DeFilippis after STEALING his car and kidnapping him in December.
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Yesterday; :08

Lilly, his brother Mark and friend, Gary Barker, then allegedly held up two convenience stores in Giles County.
The robbery victims testified that Gary Barker threatened them with the gun that was later determined to be the murder weapon.
Ben Lilly's lawyers say Barker also could've committed the murder.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:03:24
IN Q=
((CHRIS TUCK/BEN LILLY'S LAWYER: THESE EVENTS HAPPENED IN RAPID SUCCESSION. AND IT'S APPARENT THAT MR. BARKER HAD THE FIREARM THAT WAS USED IN THE MURDER IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. ))
SOT 7:11:49
((SKIP SCHWAB/ASST. MONTGOMERY CO. PROSECUTOR: THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY HAD THE GUN IN GILES COUNTY SOME HALF AN HOUR OR MORE LATER AFTER THE APPARENT TIME OF THE KILLING DOES NOT MEAN OR INDICATE ANYTHING ABOUT WHO HAD THE GUN AT THE TIME OF THE KILLING.))
SUPER=01-Chris Tuck/Ben Lilly's Lawyer;
SUPER=01-Skip Schwab/Asst. Montgomery Co. Prosecutor; :10
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=at the time of the killing
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Mark Lilly and Barker have both blamed Ben Lilly for the murder.
But Ben Lilly told police the two men spotted him hitchhiking and picked him up AFTER the murder.
(----------------)

8Giles-Drowning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tho
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=NONE

Divers will be back at the New River tomorrow to resume their search
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pembroke/Yesterday;
for the body of a fourteen- year-old girl who apparently jumped off a bridge Sunday.
Poor visibility hampered their efforts before the search was halted due to darkness.
Meanwhile-- the Giles County School System has implemented counseling services for students and faculty having difficulty with the girls disappearance.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:41:39-2:41:54
IN Q=We have already
((RON WHETZEL/DIR. OF CURRICULUM, GILES CO.; WE HAVE ALREADY PROCEEDED WITH BRIEFING THE FACULTY AND INFORMING THE STUDENTS OF WHAT WE DO KNOW, WHICH IS LIMITED AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE CONTACTED NEW RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING COUNSELORS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS NEEDED.))
SUPER=01-Ron Whetzel/Dir. of Curriculum, Giles Co.;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=teachers as needed.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

The missing girl's name has not been released.

8Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Taking a look now at the forecast - expect periods of rain today with highs in the mid 40s.