Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260129
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"He said he was late - couldn't start his car or something," Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood said. "I don't think he was believed."
Jamie Vashon Wells, 19, had been released on bond after being charged with shooting at a car in September.
The shooting apparently followed an argument in a Franklin County High School gym class, Sheriff's Investigator C.R. Cundiff said after the incident.
He said he did not know what the fight was about, but that two male students agreed to meet after school at a fast-food restaurant on Virginia 40.
Two cars carrying several teens met there but were chased away by the restaurant's security guard. The cars then went down the road to a Dairy Queen restaurant, where the argument intensified.
According to Cundiff, a 19-year-old male from one car and a 17-year-old male from the other car brought out guns.
About 3:45 p.m., the older teen fired shots from a semiautomatic weapon at the other car, hitting it about nine times, Cundiff said. No one was in the car at the time and no one was injured.
The shooter fled the scene before police arrived. Wells was arrested later that day.
A jury trial for Wells was scheduled for Wednesday morning. After waiting 15 minutes for him to show, Judge B.A. Davis dismissed the jury.
Hapgood said Wells was found later Wednesday, and was taken to the Franklin County jail. He'll remain there until another trial date can be set.
Hapgood said the 17-year-old was convicted earlier in Juvenile Court of reckless handling of a firearm, a misdemeanor.
by CNB