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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995                   TAG: 9504260126
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

MARTINSVILLE MAN, 45, SHOT TO DEATH AT HOME

When police arrived at the home of Johnny J. Ayers, 45, Monday night, they found him lying on a bed in the basement, said Sgt. Ronnie Hatcher of the Martinsville Police Department.

Ayers was pronounced dead that night in the emergency room of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, police said.

Police learned of Ayers' death when his wife, Hilda Ayers, drove to the department Monday to say her husband had just been shot, Hatcher said. She had the .22-caliber Magnum pistol that she said was used in the shooting and gave police a statement about the death, police said. Hatcher declined to say whether Hilda Ayers shot her husband.

The shooting occurred soon after Ayers arrived home from work, police Lt. C.E. Long said. Some physical violence had prompted the shooting, he said, but he would not elaborate.

No charges have yet been filed in the case, and the death may be ruled self-defense, Hatcher said.

- Associated Press

Keywords:
FATALITY