ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997           TAG: 9702120065
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA 

BOWLING SHOE DISPUTE LEADS TO STABBING

An argument over the quality of the Leisure Lane's bowling shoes ended with a customer stabbing an employee several times late Saturday.

Mike Hudson, an investigator with the Pulaski Police Department, said there are no suspects in the case.

Police arrived at the bowling alley on Lee Highway Saturday about 10 p.m.

Brian Shrewsberry told police a man between19 and 22 began using abusive language after complaining about bowling shoes.

Shrewsberry said he told the man he would have to leave. The man, accompanied by an older teen-age girl who appeared to be his girlfriend, and two younger girls between 10 and 13, left the bowling alley, Hudson said.

Witnesses said the suspect went to his car and began to return to the bowling alley. Shrewsberry went outside to make sure the man did not come inside. The suspect then stabbed Shrewsberry in the face, ear, abdomen and back, Hudson said.

Shrewsberry went to Columbia Pulaski Community Hospital, where he was treated and released, according to Hudson.

"The victim said he never saw the weapon, but we're assuming it was a knife," Hudson said.

There are few leads in the case. Hudson said the only description of the suspect the victim could give was a man 5-foot-8 to 6 feet tall, weighing 145-170 pounds with long brown hair. Witnesses said the young girls with the man called the suspect "Pokey," he said.

Anyone with information about the stabbing should call the Pulaski Police Department at 980-1220.

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