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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 17, 1994                   TAG: 9402170195
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FORMER NORTH CROSS STUDENT CHARGED WITH GUN OFFENSE

A former North Cross School student has been arrested on charges that he possessed a gun while on school grounds.

Burke A. Rucker, 18, was charged Tuesday, according to court records.

Rucker, who was expelled from the school, is accused of having the unloaded pistol at the school Feb. 1.

Administrators at the private school confirmed that they found the .22-caliber pistol in the pocket of a coat stashed in a bag.

Rucker is charged under a felony statute aimed at keeping guns off school grounds. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 23.

At first, North Cross officials did not notify police that the gun was found on campus. Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney F.W. "Skip" Burkart ordered the police investigation last Wednesday after learning about the incident.

Will Stacey, headmaster of the private school, said the student brought the gun to school after a disagreement with another student at an off-campus party.

Stacey said the boy wanted to let the other student know he had a weapon in case that student kept threatening him.

Stacey said the student who was carrying the gun had no bullets with him.

by CNB