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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991                   TAG: 9103280405
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Ron Brown
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SHOOTING SUSPECT FLEES ON HORSE

A Floyd County man was shot in the abdomen and arm by a gun-toting horseman Wednesday night, authorities said.

Benjamin Saunders, 39, was wounded with a .22-caliber pistol shortly before 6:30 p.m. as he sat in his pickup truck along Virginia 768 near his house in the Indian Valley section of Floyd County.

Saunders was airlifted by Life-Guard 10 to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he was in serious condition after surgery Wednesday night.

Floyd County Sheriff's Investigator Jerry Yopp said the driver-side window of Saunders' truck was smashed by the bullets. Authorities found several bullet holes in the truck.

The suspect fled on horseback after the shooting.

Yopp said an arrest warrant was obtained for Guy C. Turpin, an acquaintance of Saunders'.

Floyd County deputies and state police were searching for Turpin Wednesday night.

Turpin, who works as a blacksmith, is a rodeo rider and horse trainer.

by CNB