Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290151
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER NOTE: below
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Darrell A. Hayes, 30, of 3026 Bethel Road in Fincastle, was shot at least once after he wrecked his car and then opened fire on the deputies with an assault rifle, according to Botetourt County Sheriff Reed Kelly. The shootout occurred on Frontage Road F054 at Virginia 608 near Arcadia around 7 p.m. The deputies were pursuing Hayes - who had robbed a Texaco gas station and convenience store on U.S. 11 near Buchanan - after being notified by his parents.
"He shot a hole through the floor of [his parents'] home," Kelly said. "They said he was intoxicated and were afraid he was going to hurt somebody.''
The sheriff said at least 15 rounds were fired in the gunbattle - nine by Hayes and the others by Cpl. Eddie Clark and Deputy L.W. Bennett. Clark's cruiser was riddled by bullets, several shattering the windshield and piercing the front seat. Clark suffered a minor wound when a bullet grazed his ear, Kelly said.
Bennett, who was driving a four-wheel-drive sheriff's vehicle, was not injured.
"They're lucky to be here," Kelly said. "They followed procedures, and they did all they could do."
Back at the Texaco shortly after 9 p.m., store employees Thelma Taylor and Thurman Ayers recounted the robbery.
"I thought the man was playing a joke at first," said Ayers, drinking a soda. "But he put the gun to my chest and then to my neck, and he was cursing me. I had a Russian pull a gun on me on the streets of Berlin after [World War II], but it didn't feel half as bad as this did."
Taylor - who was behind the store's counter and pushed an alarm button during the robbery - said Hayes put a little more than $10 worth of gas in his car, waited outside until no customers were in the store, then pulled the assault rifle from his car and walked in. Hayes held the gun on the employees, backed down an aisle to a cooler and grabbed a 12-pack of beer.
"He took 10 dollars and 5 cents in gas and a 12-pack of beer, and he lost his life for it," Taylor said.
Taylor and Ayers drive handicapped children to and from Botetourt County schools and work at the store at night. Both said they may reconsider moonlighting after Thursday night.
"I don't think it pays enough," Taylor said.
Kelly said the state police will investigate the shooting. "I feel more comfortable with an outside agency taking a look at it."
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB