THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090337
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
An 18-year-old man was charged with murder Tuesday after the victim of a weekend hit-and-run accident died in a hospital, police said.
Jeremy W. Byrd, of the 4900 block of Westgrove Road, is accused of using a car to run over a Pockets Billiards & Cafe patron in the Aragona Shopping Center parking lot after an argument Sunday night.
Police spokesman Lou Thurston said the victim, Jason M. Sheets, 23, of the 600 block of Masefield Drive, was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital after he was struck just before 10:30 p.m.
Thurston said Byrd sped away after striking Sheets. Police later arrested him and charged him with malicious assault.
Although doctors initially expected Sheets to live, his condition suddenly worsened Tuesday, Thurston said.
Thurston said Byrd was charged with murder because ``the victim died because of an intentional act, rather than an accident.''
Detective J.T. Orr upgraded the charge Tuesday at the city jail, where Byrd was being held on $15,000 bail. He is now being held without bail.
Byrd is scheduled for a bond hearing today.
This is the city's 32nd slaying of the year. All but two cases have been solved.
KEYWORDS: MURDER HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS ARREST
FATALITY by CNB