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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995                   TAG: 9502030065
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEENS CHARGED AFTER SHOT HITS VINTON MAN

A 15-year-old Vinton boy and a 16-year-old Roanoke boy were playing with a .22-caliber gun at Longwood Apartments, 220 Eighth St. in Vinton, police said. The 15-year-old told police someone challenged him to pull the trigger, police said.

The boy aimed at a tree but hit a man who was standing nearby, said Lt. Bill Brown. Michael Carden, 36, was hit in the upper right thigh and was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Brown said.

After the incident, the 16-year-old threw the gun in Tinker Creek.

The two teens were arrested Thursday about 1 a.m. and were charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm.

Police recovered the weapon. The boys were being held at Coyner Springs Juvenile Detention Home.