ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 1996 TAG: 9606120048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: HENRY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Jeffrey Norris came home Monday afternoon, grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and sat down in a sofa chair to watch television, Franklin County investigators believe.
Minutes after he entered the trailer he was staying in, someone pointed a pistol at his head from close range and fired, killing him.
Norris, 33, became Franklin County's second homicide victim this year.
The woman who owns the trailer - a former co-worker of Norris whose name was not released by investigators - found his body shortly after 5 p.m. and notified authorities.
Lt. Ewell Hunt of the county Sheriff's Office said there are leads in the case, and acquaintances of Norris have been interviewed.
Reports of threats against Norris were passed along to investigators, Hunt said. Investigators have been told why the threats were made, but they have not publicly disclosed that detail pending arrest of a suspect.
Norris moved into the trailer, on a remote stretch of Virginia 608 near Philpott Lake, on Friday. He recently had broken up with his girlfriend, with whom he had been living a few miles down the road in Henry, Hunt said.
Norris was charged with assaulting her last year, according to documents on file with the Sheriff's Office. The disposition of the case was unavailable Tuesday.
One of Norris' brothers, Doug, who lives in Henry County, said he was aware of the assault charge, but he did not know if his brother had been convicted.
Doug Norris said he was close to Jeffrey, but didn't get to spend much time with him in recent months.
The Norris brothers grew up in Glade Spring, near Bristol. Their parents live in Meadowview, a small community near Glade Spring.
Jeffrey Norris had lived in Franklin County for a couple of years.
Just hours before the slaying Monday, Hunt said, Norris' father came to Franklin County to see his son.
Norris was unemployed, Hunt said, and his father brought him money to pay some of his bills.
Investigators found $419.75 in Jeffrey Norris' pocket, leading them to believe that robbery was not a motive for the slaying.
The beer he had taken from the refrigerator was full, and an unopened pack of cigarettes sat next to it on a coffee table.
What investigators didn't find was the weapon.
An initial analysis of evidence shows that Norris was killed by a bullet from either a .357 Magnum- some .357s are not Magnumsrevolver pistol, Hunt said.
Franklin County's first homicide of 1996 occurred in January. Kenneth R. "Rusty" Moore was stabbed to death outside a mobile home near Ferrum. An acquaintance of Moore has been charged with the killing.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. Lt. Ewell Hunt of theby CNBFranklin County Sheriff's Office describes the homicide of Jeffrey
Glen Norris. Norris, 33, was shot in the head while staying a few
days in the white trailer. color.