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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 2, 1990                   TAG: 9005020643
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STORE OWNER CHARGED WITH FIRING AT THIEF

The owner of a Southwest Roanoke convenience store has been charged with shooting at a man who tried to steal a case of beer from the store, police said today.

Ralph Pugh, the owner of the Stop & Shop at 716 Marshall Ave. S.W., was arraigned this morning in Roanoke General District Court on a charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter.

Police said a man walked into the store at about 1:37 p.m. Monday, took two 12-packs of beer from a cooler and fled.

Barry Lynn Arthur, 20, of the 2900 block of Salem Turnpike Northwest, was later charged with petty larceny as a subsequent offense. Because Arthur has been convicted of petty larceny previously, the offense is a felony.

As Arthur fled the store, Pugh followed him outside and shouted for him to stop, police said.

Pugh, 48, then allegedly fired at Arthur with a small-caliber handgun, police said.

Arthur - who was unarmed - placed the beer on the ground and fled. Police who responded to the store a few minutes later found him in a nearby alley.

While Arthur has told police that the shots were fired in his direction, Pugh has maintained that he shot his pistol into the air, police said.

No one was injured.

by CNB