ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 5, 1996 TAG: 9608050108
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DORAVILLE, GA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
A man jumped out of the bushes early Sunday and shot two Indiana National Guardsmen who came to Georgia to help with Olympic security, killing one and wounding the other.
The slain man was identified as Spc. Juventino P. Silva, 25, of Highland. Sgt. Danny L. Cook, 43, of LaPaz was wounded when a bullet grazed his head, police said.
The guardsmen, off duty and wearing civilian clothes, were shot only hours before they were to return home from duty at the Olympics.
They had left a restaurant and were walking back to their camp at Sequoyah Junior High School in this northeast Atlanta suburb around 3:30 a.m. when the assailant jumped out of some bushes and fired seven shots at them.
The gunshots - and Cook's screams - woke residents of an apartment complex.
``He was screaming ... `Help! Help me! Somebody shot my friend!''' said Norma Olvera, who called police.
The shooting appeared to be ``a random act of violence,'' said police Capt. John King.
Maj. Ken Baldowski of the Georgia Department of Defense said there was no indication the assailant was trying to rob them. Police said they had no motive. They were searching for a white car that left the scene after the shooting, but no arrests were reported.
``It's a very emotional time for most of the guardsmen in this particular base camp from Indiana,'' Baldowski said. ``They know they are going home, and this is a particularly difficult day for them.''
The wounded guardsman was treated and released from a hospital. Baldowski said he didn't know if the injured man would have to stay behind to help with the police investigation.
About 4,000 National Guard troops are in the Atlanta area to help provide security for the Olympics, which ended Sunday night. Baldowski said 550 Indiana guardsmen were staying at the junior high school.
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB