ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 TAG: 9612030089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
A Roanoke woman who told police she shot her husband accidentally was indicted Monday on a charge of murder.
Rhonda Banks Cunningham, 36, also was charged in an indictment returned by a grand jury in Roanoke Circuit Court with use of a firearm in the commission of murder.
After being called to Cunningham's 10th Street Northwest home about 5:30 a.m. Oct. 23, police found her husband lying in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to his head.
Garrett Wayne Cunningham, 42, died several hours later at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Cunningham told police that she bought a handgun because of a stormy and sometimes violent relationship with her husband, authorities said earlier.
During an argument with Garrett Cunningham, she placed the gun to her own head out of frustration, Rhonda Cunningham told police. When she lowered the weapon, her husband tried to grab it and it went off accidentally during a struggle, she said.
Police did not charge Cunningham initially and referred the case to Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell, who decided to seek a murder indictment.
Although Cunningham claims the shooting was an accident, at least one witness has told police that she made threats to her husband shortly beforehand, authorities said.
Cunningham will be allowed to remain free, without having to post bond, pending her trial, Caldwell said.
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines KEYWORDS: ROMURby CNB