Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 24, 1991 TAG: 9103240230
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Leonard A. Morris, 28, of 463 Arbutus Ave. S.E., was pronounced dead about 6:30 a.m. at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Four police officers went to Morris' home after a 20-year-old woman was found at Walnut and Piedmont avenues at 5:30 a.m., partially clad and bleeding badly, Police Chief M. David Hooper said.
At first, Morris was cordial, allowing authorities into his home, Hooper said. But as police began to search the apartment, he turned violent - grabbing a kitchen knife and yelling: "You've got me now, you might as well shoot me."
Morris stabbed Officer H.P. McDaniel in the left leg and charged two other officers who had been going upstairs, Hooper said. Then, Officer D.E. Sink and Sgt. G.C. Hurley drew their revolvers and fired, hitting Morris several times in the chest.
Based on a preliminary review, Hooper said he believes his officers acted properly.
"We have no basis at this point to believe that it's anything other than a justifiable shooting," he said. "However, we're not making that determination at this time."
The Police Department and Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell will investigate the incident, but Hooper said Morris' actions left police with no choice but to shoot.
"After he stabbed one officer and charged another, it seemed the risk was far too great to take to see if he would stab another," Hooper said.
Police have been able to talk only briefly to the woman, who was listed in critical condition Saturday at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. McDaniel was treated and released.
At a news conference five hours after the shooting, Hooper gave the following account:
A man on his way to work about 5:30 a.m. saw the woman lying in the parking lot of a closed business. She was barefoot, partially clad and bleeding heavily from several stab wounds to her chest.
After police were called to the scene, the woman was able to tell them some details of what happened, despite her condition. "She was bleeding badly enough that the officers felt she might not make it," Hooper said.
The woman said she had been at a Roanoke nightspot Friday night and met a man she remembered only as "Mo." The woman apparently ended up at or near Morris' home, where he attempted to rape her, she said.
She fled, but the man caught up with her and stabbed her, she told police. The woman was found about two blocks from Morris' home.
Just before the woman was taken into surgery, she was able to add one more detail - she remembered that the assailant's name was Leonard Morris.
After a quick record check, police found three men by that name in Roanoke. They went to the address closest to where the victim was found.
A young girl answered a knock on the door of 463 Arbutus Ave. She called for Morris, who was in an upstairs apartment, and he came to the door.
Morris invited the officers inside. Sgt. Hurley and Officers McDaniel and Sink went into the house, while Officer J.D. Loope waited at the back door.
When questioned, Morris told police he had stayed home the previous night. But he was not able to explain blood the officers noticed on his shoe and leg.
Hurley and Sink started to go upstairs to investigate Morris' story, leaving the man in the kitchen with McDaniel.
Morris then began to yell words to the effect of, "You've got me now, you might as well shoot me," Hooper said. After stabbing McDaniel, Morris rushed toward the stairwell, where Sink and Hurley were coming back down.
Sink drew his revolver and fired several times. Hurley, who got to the bottom of the stairs seconds later, also fired at least one shot.
Morris, who had crossed the room by then, fell to the floor, breaking the knife that was still in his hand.
Hooper said he was not sure how many times Morris was shot. All of the shots were to his chest.
Hurley, a 14-year police veteran, and Sink, who has been with the force about four years, will be allowed to remain on the job during the investigation. "If they feel that they can, there's no reason for them not to return to work," Hooper said.
Morris' wife, Vivian, questioned the actions of police.
"My husband is not a violent man at all," she said. Vivian Morris was at work Friday night and early Saturday. She last saw her husband about 10:45 p.m. at a convenience store, where he said he was going out with a friend for a few drinks.
"But even when he was drinking, he wasn't violent toward anyone," she said.
She questioned why police had to use guns when her husband had only a kitchen knife. "It's supposed to be the last resort," she said.
by CNB