Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Todd Jackson and Diane Struzzi
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Around 10:30 p.m., police said, they saw a large crowd gathered around Christopher Ray Martin, 16, of Goodview, who was found unconscious and beaten in the parking lot. Witnesses told police that Martin was punched in the face, knocked to the ground and kicked by a group of youths.
The mother of a 15-year-old who was with Martin said the two teens were attacked as they were walking to their car. She said the attack was unprovoked.
Police said Martin was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The 15-year-old's mother, who asked not to be identified, said Martin was kept there overnight and released Wednesday. She said her son was struck but got away from the melee.
John Whittaker, a Radford man who witnessed the incident, said he had to move his wife and his two young girls to safety when the attack started as they were leaving the carnival.
"[Martin] never had a chance to defend himself," he said. "He had no idea it was coming."
Another person told police he also was attacked by youths. Police did not release his name and said his injuries were not serious.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***