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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 12, 1991                   TAG: 9104120426
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS, NEV.                                LENGTH: Short

VET'S MOM GETS KING'S CHECK

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, "personally moved" by the shooting death of a Persian Gulf War veteran, presented his mother with $100,000 on Thursday, a television network reported Thursday.

Two emissaries from the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., delivered a check for an unspecified amount to Army Spec. Anthony Riggs' mother, Lessie, who lives in Las Vegas, said her sister, Bertha Lloyd.

Anthony Riggs, 22, was shot to death on March 18, less than one day after returning to Detroit from serving with a Patriot missile unit in the war. The widely publicized slaying at first was thought to be a random street crime.

Cable News Network's Los Angeles bureau reported that the gift was for $100,000. Lloyd refused to confirm or deny the report Thursday night and said Lessie Riggs was not available for comment.

Officials were not available late Thursday at the Saudi Embassy, according to a man there who said he was a security guard.

Police have arrested Anthony Rigg's wife, Toni, and her brother, Michael Cato, after alleging they killed the soldier to collect his life insurance. Both are being held on first-degree murder charges.

King Fahd was "personally moved by the tragic case of Army Spc. Anthony Riggs," said a prepared statement from the Saudi Embassy read by Lloyd.

by CNB