Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 1, 1990 TAG: 9006010144
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ronnie Dale Tyree, 26, was found guilty by a Lynchburg Circuit Court jury in March of involuntary manslaughter, shooting into an occupied vehicle, brandishing a firearm and assault and battery in the fatal shooting of Kim Marie West.
The jury recommended that Tyree, a self-employed roofer, serve 10 years for involuntary manslaughter and a total of five years on the other three charges.
Circuit Judge Mosby G. Perrow officially sentenced Tyree, who has been held since his conviction in the Lynchburg City Jail.
West was home from Tech on holiday break when the incident occurred a week before Christmas. According to previous testimony, West was riding in the back of a car as she returned with three friends from a Christmas party.
At an intersection in a quiet section of Lynchburg, the car pulled behind a truck driven by Tyree. Tyree got out of his truck with a rifle and screamed at Michael Banks, 17, who was driving the car. Tyree then pointed the gun at the back window and it fired.
Bullet fragments struck West in the chest and neck. She stumbled from the car and fell. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shattered glass and bullet fragments also struck Banks in the face, which prompted the assault and battery conviction.
Michael Haythe, another of West's friends who was in the car, testified that Tyree knelt beside West and asked where she was shot. He then jumped into his truck and drove off. Tyree surrendered to police that night at the Campbell County Jail, about 10 miles away.
Tyree and his wife, who was in the truck with him, have testified that Banks' car bumped the truck. But Lynchburg police officers, Banks and Haythe have testified that the car did not hit Tyree's truck.
by CNB