Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 6, 1995 TAG: 9502060073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Who threatened whom is still in question, but by 1:30 Saturday afternoon, a store owner was charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits, and the customer still was breathing heavily from a chase.
Bobby Nazrini, owner of the Hype City clothing store on Williamson Road Northeast, was arrested and charged with shooting the gun shortly after the incident, Roanoke Police Maj. J.L. Viar said.
Nazrini, who co-owns the store with his wife, Laura, declined to comment. They own another Hype City on Patterson Avenue Southwest, where Laura Nazrini shot and killed a burglar who had entered the store in 1993. Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell declared she acted in self-defense.
Harris, 25, of Roanoke, said he was sure he still fit into the size 52 pants he had bought last year at the Williamson Road store.
When he went to the store Thursday night to buy two more pairs, he didn't bother to try them on until he got home.
``But they were too small,'' Harris said. ``So I went back Friday, and the store owner, he measured me for 56. But they were ugly colors. I didn't even want that ugly color but I took them.''
The size 56 was too large, so Harris called the store Saturday morning.
At this point, the stories conflict.
Harris said he called to explain that he still didn't have a pair of pants that fit. He said he would like his $62 and some change back if they didn't have the proper size in stock.
Laura Nazrini said Harris called demanding money, cursing and threatening to tear the store apart.
When Harris entered the store a few minutes later, she said, ``he was irate and rude. He stood there, moving back and forth with his hands in a fist'' and using obscenities. ``He's a huge, scary man.''
She said she told him they had his size, but he was not satisfied.
``We're very lenient [on the store's no-refund policy],'' she said. ``If someone is sincere and nice, we'll give them their money.''
Harris said the owners told him they wouldn't get his size in until mid-March.
``So I said, `Fine, if you don't have the merchandise I need in the store, then give me my money.'''
An argument ensued - on that, both sides agree. And Bobby Nazrini did pull a gun from behind the counter, follow Harris outside and fire the weapon.
``He fired one shot, in the air, just to get [Harris] to leave,'' Laura Nazrini said.
``He chased me a block or so,'' Harris contended, ``then my girlfriend saw him aim the gun at me and shoot.''
Harris said he managed to duck behind a building just before the shot was fired.
Laura Nazrini called the police. The gun was confiscated, and her husband was arrested.
She said the incident was scary and ``a mess,'' but not unusual.
Harris said he looked forward to Bobby Nazrini's court hearing. He and his girlfriend, Virgie Dillon, also pressed charges for attempted malicious wounding and brandishing a firearm.
``People should know - somebody's going to get hurt,'' he said. ``It was almost me.''
by CNB