BUENA VISTA OFFICER CLEARED IN SLAYING

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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 4, 1993                   TAG: 9302040203
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
BUENA VISTA OFFICER CLEARED IN SLAYING
A Buena Vista police officer will not face charges for fatally shooting a man in November who was holding his former girlfriend at gunpoint, the special prosecutor appointed to evaluate the case has told the state police.
In a letter to the state police received Wednesday, Augusta County Commonwealth's Attorney A. Lee Ervin said that after reviewing the state police investigation into the shooting of Harry Wayne Wright, 46, of Buena Vista, he did not find cause to charge the officer involved, Anthony J. Panebianco.
Panebianco shot and killed Wright after responding to a domestic dispute call Nov. 27 at the home of Wright's former girlfriend, Judy Oyler. When he arrived at the house, Wright was holding Oyler at gunpoint outside and pulling her to his truck about 50 yards away.
At one point, he shot at Panebianco, but the officer did not return the fire, fearing that he would hit Oyler. Two more officers arrived, and they called on Wright to give up. He refused and pushed Oyler in the truck.
Inside the truck, Wright fired a second shot that was not aimed at any of the officers. Panebianco then shot into the truck at Wright.
Wright died at Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington.
Wright was well-liked around Buena Vista. He had no history of violence, but had been distraught over his split with Oyler.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB