Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 12, 1993 TAG: 9303120321
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium
TOUGHER GUN LAWS SOUGHT
The husband of a science teacher shot to death in a school parking lot asked state leaders to review gun-control legislation "in light of what is obviously inadequate control."Donna Harrison, 45, was gunned down outside Dozier Middle School before class Monday. She was apparently the random victim of a man who may have purchased the murder weapon three days earlier.
In an open letter released Wednesday, Gerald Harrison asked for justice in the case and tighter security at schools.
Police arrested Darryl Quentin Smith, 32, a former University of Virginia football player, hours after the shootings of Harrison and another woman, Stefanie Hawkins. Hawkins, 50, was wounded but survived.
Smith is in jail, facing charges of first-degree murder, malicious wounding, robbery, grand larceny and felony firearms charges.
Investigators say they are still searching for the motivation behind the shooting spree.
Police do not believe Smith knew either victim, police spokeswoman Lynn James said.
Police said Smith stole Hawkins' car after shooting her five times in a 7-Eleven parking lot, then drove to the school.
Police said a search of Smith's apartment turned up ammunition and a receipt for a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol they think was used in the shootings. The gun, purchased last Friday, has not been found.
"We ask that Gov. Douglas Wilder review with the General Assembly recently passed legislation concerning handgun control measures in light of what is obviously inadequate control," Harrison's letter said.
Harrison also asked the city's mayor, school system and public safety officials to review safety issues at the city's schools.
"We are concerned as a department for violence in the city as whole, in the schools as well as on the streets and in convenience stores. And we are taking aggressive steps to address the violence," James said.
"But it's very difficult to address random violence," she added. "This was very unpredictable. I don't think a school was targeted. But we are concerned about safety at the schools as well as everywhere else."
Keywords:
FATALITY