
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 11, 1990                   TAG: 9004110455
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MAN HELD IN VINTON SHOOTING

A Vinton man was apprehended by town police Tuesday night as he was leaving the scene of a shooting in the parking lot of the Berkshire Health Care Center in Vinton.

A female employee of the health care center, at 705 Clearview Drive, was shot in the head and upper left leg, Vinton Police Chief R.R. Foutz said.

She was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, but Foutz was unsure of her condition early this morning.

Earl E. Meece, 58, of Vinton was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of an illegal weapon, Foutz said.

Meece also was charged with carrying a single-shot sawed-off shotgun, Foutz said.

Police did not identify the victim because her relatives had not been notified, Foutz said.

Police were called to the health care center at 10:37 p.m. after reports of several gunshots having been fired in the parking lot.

An officer arriving at the scene blocked the exit from the parking lot and stopped Meece as he was leaving, Foutz said.

Police were unclear about the motive for the shooting, Foutz said.

by CNB