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

DATE: MONDAY, March 25, 1991                   TAG: 9103250331
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: EVENING  
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKER CHARGED IN STABBING DEATH

Rufus David Hicks Jr. died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital about 7:15 a.m. He had been released from Community Hospital Friday night, but went to Roanoke Memorial about 4:30 a.m. Saturday after complaining about pain and swelling in his head.

Poindexter Demitris Penny, 21, of the 700 block of 13th Street Southwest, was charged with murder Sunday night. Police have obtained warrants for another suspect in the case, but that person has not been arrested.

Police found Hicks lying on the ground shortly after 10 p.m. Friday. He told them he had been beaten on the head and back by two men who approached him from behind.

Hicks said he was knocked to the ground, got up and went after several men. He was beaten again before police responded to a call about a fight, city police said.

Hicks, who stood 5 feet 6 inches and weighed 120 pounds, remained upset when he was taken from the scene by police officers and rescue workers. Penny is 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 180 pounds, police said, while the other suspect weighs about 215 pounds.

When police arrived, Hicks was bleeding after receiving severe injuries on his face, head and upper body, police said. Hicks said there was no apparent reason for the attack.

A spokesman for the Police Department credited informants on the street for information leading to Penny's arrest.

Keywords:
ROMUR

***CORRECTION***

PUBLISHED CORRECTION RAN ON MARCH 26, 1991.

BECAUSE OF A COPY EDITOR'S ERROR, A HEADLINE IN MONDAY'S AFTERNOON EDITION INCORRECTLY SAID A ROANOKE MAN HAD BEEN CHARGED IN THE STABBING DEATH OF ANOTHER MAN. THE SUSPECT, ACTUALLY, WAS CHARGED AFTER THE VICTIM DIED OF INJURIES FROM A BEATING.

Memo: CORRECTION