
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994                    TAG: 9406101013 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ROBERT GUY MATTHEWS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940610                                 LENGTH: PORTSMOUTH

GUARD SAYS SUSPECT IN 10 ROBBERIES WAS MAN WHO SHOT HIM

{LEAD} The man sneaked up behind off-duty deputy Eugene Jones and shoved a gun in his back, whispering, ``This is it, let me have it!'' Jones, 58, had a split second to decide whether to fight or cooperate.

He decided to fight. And despite being shot twice in the hand with his own gun during the struggle, Jones says the decision may have saved him from being killed by a man who is suspected of at least 10 armed robberies in three neighboring cities.

{REST} On Thursday, Jones testified that David L. Mack shot him while he moonlighted as a security guard at a Farm Fresh Supermarket on April 4.

A General District Court Judge certified Mack's robbery, malicious wounding and two firearm charges to a grand jury on Thursday. A grand larceny, robbery and two more use of a firearm charges also were certified to a grand jury. They involved an alleged robbery of an ice cream store, also on April 4.

``When he stuck (his own) gun in my back, I turned around and grabbed him,'' Jones testified. ``We started wrestling.''

As the two struggled for Jones' .38-caliber gun, Jones fell, leaving Mack standing atop him, Mack testified.

``But my hand never left the gun,'' he said after Thursday's preliminary hearing. ``I feel he would have shot and killed me. He was trying to shoot me in the chest.''

Jones said he kept knocking the gun away each time Mack pulled the trigger. The first bullet traveled between Jones' legs. The second went through his right hand. And the last one clipped the pinkie on his right hand.

Mack is awaiting charges in the Norfolk jail.

{KEYWORDS} ROBBERIES SHOOTING INJURIES

by CNB