ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210032
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
note: above
THREE OF the couple's four children were inside. One was wounded, friends said, trying to defend her mother.
A Christiansburg mail carrier was charged with murder Wednesday in connection with the shotgun slaying of his estranged wife and wounding of his teen-age daughter, who tried to stop the attack.
Police charged Michael Knowles, 47, with murder, malicious wounding and two charges of attempted malicious wounding of a police officer. He's also charged with breaking and entering to commit malicious wounding and two firearm violations.
Longtime Christiansburg resident Angie Knowles, 43, died at 9:21 a.m., about three hours after emergency surgery for a shotgun wound to her abdomen.
The incident began early Wednesday when, police said, Michael Knowles broke into 109 Evans St., His wife had been living at that address for just a month.
Police answered a 911 call about 6:30 a.m. that shots had been fired and Angie Knowles had been wounded.
Three of the couple's four children were inside. The only daughter - Vanessa, a senior at Christiansburg High School - sat bleeding from her finger. She had attempted to block the shotgun blast, family friends said.
Police said they saw Michael Knowles in the front window of the house holding a shotgun when they pulled up. They talked to him for about 10 minutes on the phone, trying to convince him to surrender.
But Knowles refused, police said, and fired one shot from the back door at Montgomery County Deputy Jeremy Williams, who had heard the call on the police radio and stopped to help.
A Christiansburg officer returned fire. No one was hit.
Knowles then went back inside the house. He re-emerged a few minutes later and appeared to be unarmed, police said. As Knowles shouted threats at officers, Williams and Officer Mike Epperly tackled him from behind.
After the arrest, rescue workers took Angie Knowles and her daughter to Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital. Knowles died after emergency surgery. Vanessa Knowles was treated and released.
Lenore Jackson said her friend Angie Knowles complained of physical and mental abuse by her estranged husband.
``She was terrified for her life,'' Jackson said.
With the help and support of friends, Jackson said, Angie Knowles moved out of her home while her husband of 22 years was vacationing in Israel and started her first full-time job outside of the home on March 6.
The Knowleses were in Montgomery Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court March 5 for a hearing to set up child support and visitation.
The children have been taken in by family friend Betty Ashbrook for now.
Knowles is being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.
Staff writer Kathy Loan contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. headshot of Knowlesby CNB2. GENE DALTON/Staff The Knowles house at 109 Evans St. in
Christiansburg where Angie Knowles was killed Wednesday morning.
color KEYWORDS: FATALITY