Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 18, 1993 TAG: 9311180126
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Marcus D. Williamson, 21, faces charges of abduction, malicious wounding and carjacking in connection with Tuesday's events.
Williamson remained hospitalized Wednesday at Montgomery Regional Hospital, where he was being treated for an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to his left leg.
He was arrested Tuesday after two men were abducted, one shot, a taxi stolen and New River and Roanoke valley police were led on a chase at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Tuesday's events happened just hours after Williamson was released from Montgomery County Jail when a felony shoplifting charge against him was dismissed in Montgomery County General District Court.
Williamson was charged last month with taking two drill-bit sets valued at $60 from Wal-Mart in Christiansburg. The charge was felony shoplifting because Williamson had two previous larceny convictions.
But records of the previous convictions - for concealing merchandise and petty larceny in Roanoke in 1990 - were not available Tuesday to the Christiansburg officer who charged Williamson. So the charge was dismissed - although prosecutors plan to seek a direct indictment from a grand jury.
Williamson is on probation for drug convictions in Montgomery and Roanoke counties. If convicted in connection with Tuesday's events, he faces additional prison time and might have to serve the remaining portions of sentences that were suspended.
Court records show that:
In Roanoke County, Williamson was charged with possessing cocaine and possessing a firearm while possessing cocaine. He was sentenced in June 1992 to three years in prison but only had to serve 60 days in jail. He was placed on two years' probation.
In Montgomery County, Williamson was charged in July 1992 with possessing cocaine and distributing cocaine. He pleaded guilty in February to these two charges. He was given an eight-year prison sentence, with five years suspended. He was also fined $1,000. When released, he was to be placed on probation for five years.
On July 21, he was released on discretionary parole, less than four months after being sentenced. Williamson received credit for the several months he spent in jail awaiting trial.
Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said the Montgomery County sentence followed state sentencing guidelines and took into account his past convictions.
Little new information about Tuesday's events was released Wednesday. It was unclear how Williamson - who police say accidentally shot himself while in the taxi - got the gun that he is accused of pulling on Dewey Moore, the 73-year-old Christiansburg taxi driver.
A second gun found in the taxi belonged to Moore.
Moore said he had no time to reach for it Tuesday and it was probably best that he jumped out of the taxi when he heard the shot.
"A gun's all right in certain ways, but . . . just as soon as he shot, I never thought about a gun. . . .
"He was high," Moore said of his assailant. "He was high as a Georgia pine."
Moore wasn't surprised at the speeds his taxi reportedly reached during a two-county police pursuit that wound from Ellett Valley almost to Salem.
"Oh yeah, it will run," he said. "This has got a V-6 in it. It's got plenty of power."
Moore was back at work Wednesday but said he was still a little nervous.
"I'm going to do a lot of watching," he said, and be careful whom he picked up.
Moore said he had given Williamson rides before.
"He was a nice boy."
by CNB