THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210674
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN E. QUINONES MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
``Hey, man, give it up. Just give it up.''
Dominic Veale heard the demand, saw the semi-automatic weapon pointed at him and his young family, and for just a split second he froze.
The armed robber probably thought he had an easy target: a young man and woman carrying their sick 18-month-old daughter through Park Place at 1 a.m. Thursday.
He was wrong.
Veale, 19, told police and reporters the drama began when he and Carlina Spencer, 18, headed to the store to buy their daughter, Dominicah Spencer, some children's Tylenol to reduce a fever that accompanied a cold.
As they hurried through the 1300 block of W. 37th St., a 1993 blue Dodge with four people inside pulled up just ahead of them.
Veale told investigators later that one of the occupants jumped out of the car, pointed a Tec-9 semiautomatic pistol at the couple and demanded money.
The young father reached into his pocket - but instead of pulling out his wallet he pulled out a revolver - the one he said he started carrying last year after a close friend was killed during an attempted robbery in Park Place.
A gunfight ensued and both Veale and his attacker were wounded in the right leg.
``I managed to shoot him first, but then as wewere trying to get away my daughter slipped and fell on the ground,'' Veale said. ``It's when I dove to get her that I was shot. If the bullet hadn't hit me, it might have hit her.''
Residents in the block rushed out and brought Spencer and Dominicah inside a house, but not before the little girl noticed that her father had been injured.
``She started crying and saying, `Hurt. Da Da hurt,' '' said Spencer.
The would-be robbers left before the officers arrived. But Veale and Spencer gave police a description of the robbers' car, which was broadcast over the police radio, along with the information that one of the suspects had been injured.
Investigator D.E. Hill was in his patrol car when he heard the alert, and headed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital to see if any gunshot victims were seeking treatment.
``When I pulled up to the emergency room entrance I saw a car matching the description getting ready to leave the area,'' Hill said. ``It was like drop-off service - they dropped off the guy with the gunshot at the emergency room and planned to just keep on going.''
Hill pulled the car over, called for backup, and arrested two of the three occupants, a 17-year-old Norfolk resident and Duke Harrell, 26, of the 2500 block of Vincent Ave. The teenager was not identified because of his age.
Harrell and the boy were charged with attempted robbery. The Tec-9 was found in the car, Hill said. A female passenger in the car was released when she told Hill she had nothing to do with the robbery attempt.
The wounded suspect, a 17-year-old Norfolk resident, was arrested at the hospital and was taken into custody after his release shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday.
He is charged with two counts of attempted robbery, malicious wounding, and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Veale also was taken to Sentara Norfolk General, where he was in stable condition Thursday afternoon. He said doctors told him that he probably would not be released until Saturday. Police say they do not plan to file charges against him.
Veale, who is unemployed and has no medical insurance, said he does not know how he will pay his medical bills. Still, he said, remembering his friend's unnecessary death last year in a robbery attempt, it could have been a lot worse.
``I'm just glad I was able to protect my family,'' he said. ``Things are just too crazy out here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
BILL TIERNAN/Staff
Dominic Veale, 19, recuperates at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
after he was shot Thursday morning by a would-be robber. Below:
Veale, Carlina Spencer and their daughter, Dominicah Spencer.
Photo
Duke Harrell, 26, a suspect in the attempted robbery, was arrested
Thursday, police said.
KEYWORDS: ROBBERIES SHOOTING ASSAULT
ARREST by CNB