ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997 TAG: 9704040070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Audrey Dalton, the wife, had secured a protective order from a juvenile and domestic relations court judge earlier in the day.
A 37-year-old Hillsville man shot and killed his wife and one of his two daughters Thursday afternoon before turning his gun on himself following a standoff with town, Carroll County and state police.
Audrey Dalton, 36, had secured a protective order from a juvenile and domestic relations court judge earlier that day. She and her older daughter, Andrea, 16, had gone to their mobile home in Hillsville about 2:30 p.m. to get their belongings and move elsewhere.
The husband, Donald Ray Dalton, was not supposed to be near the home while the wife picked up her belongings. But he apparently was waiting inside and fired from the trailer as she approached it, even though she was accompanied by two deputies.
The wife was dead at the scene. Law enforcement officials were able to reach the daughter and get her to Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax. She died in surgery shortly before 6:30 p.m.
The husband remained in the trailer while authorities surrounded it. The standoff continued for several hours, ending when Dalton shot and killed himself.
All law enforcement agencies referred further inquiries to Hillsville Police Chief Junior Sharpe, who was not available for interviews Thursday night.
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB