ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080042
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press
A bullet fired from a long distance wounded a man standing in the wave pool at Water Country USA, the same park U.S. Olympic athletes are scheduled to visit this week, police said.
The 39-year-old man was standing in shallow water about 11 a.m. Tuesday when a pool attendant saw blood running down his back, said Capt. Ron Montgomery, a York County sheriff's office spokesman.
The man was treated at Williamsburg Community Hospital and released, said park spokeswoman Cindy Sarko.
Montgomery said the man asked that he not be identified. Neither the park nor the hospital would provide additional details about him or his condition. Montgomery said the man probably had returned home.
American Olympic athletes were scheduled to arrive Wednesday night for a two-day promotional junket at the water park and the larger Busch Gardens theme park about five miles away. Anheuser-Busch Co. of St. Louis owns both parks.
Sarko said the shooting was an isolated incident not connected with the athletes' visit. The parks have a security plan that includes metal detectors at the entrances and inspections of bags being brought inside. The measures were in place before the shooting, she said.
X-rays showed the bullet had lodged above the man's right lung, Montgomery said.
``The bullet was free-falling. It was traveling slower than a bullet would have if he had been closer to the source.''
The slower speed indicates that the bullet had traveled a long distance, he said. The bullet - a .38-caliber or 9 mm slug apparently not fired from a rifle - is still being tested, he said. Bullets from high-powered cartridges can travel more than a mile.
``It would be absolutely impossible for someone to have fired from in the park. We're fairly sure the bullet was fired from outside,'' Montgomery said.
About 3,400 visitors were in the park when the shooting occurred, and the wave pool was crowded.
County police said they have no leads and are looking for anyone who may have been target shooting or hunting in the area.
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