THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 12, 1995 TAG: 9508120049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
When 23-year-old Donald L. Haynes was shot by a gunman in the 1400 block of Wilcox Ave. late Thursday night, he became Portsmouth's fourth homicide victim of the week.
Haynes's death may represent a tragic record for the city, said police spokesman G.A. Brown.
``I can't remember during my time on the force ever having this many homicides in such a short period of time,'' said Brown, a veteran of almost 23 years on the Portsmouth force. ``If it's not a record, it's close to one.''
The fatal shooting pushed Portsmouth over another violence threshold as well: It was the city's 23rd homicide of the year, surpassing by one the total for all of 1994.
So far, police have not linked any of the four shootings, Brown said.
Police say that Haynes, of the 1220 block of Atlantic Ave. in Chesapeake, was shot about 11:45 p.m. outside a convenience store at Oak Street and Wilcox Avenue.
He was shot, police say, during a conversation with three other men and was pronounced dead after being taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Police are looking for three men considered suspects.
Meanwhile, 58-year-old James L. Pope was buried Friday afternoon as friends and relatives gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
``This is one of those funerals that should never have been,'' said 35-year-old Gary Fields, who was attending the funeral. ``Mr. Pope never did anything to anyone. He's one of the few people I know who never did anything to anyone.''
Pope was shot about 1:13 a.m. Monday at his home in the 100 block of Allard Road. Police say a gunman fired through the front door as Pope was about to open it. The bullet hit Pope in the chest.
``He was too good for that,'' 37-year-old Nathan Scott, a relative, said at the funeral. ``He would have given you the shirt off his back.''
Scott said a reward fund has been set up by Pope's family to help police arrest Pope's killer or killers.
The week's first homicide occurred at 11:27 p.m. Sunday when police answered a call in the 1100 block of Virginia Ave. and found 23-year-old Jermaine L. Johnson lying in the breezeway of his home.
Johnson was shot in the neck and left hip. He died later at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Several hours later, at 3:30 a.m. Monday, police were called to the 1400 block of County St., where they found 36-year-old Julian W. Pugh lying on the curb with a single gunshot wound to his lower left side.
He died later at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. ILLUSTRATION: FOUR DEAD
STAFF Map
1. Jermaine L. Johnson Sunday 11:27 p.m.
2. Julian W. Pugh Jr. Monday 3:30 a.m.
3. Donald L. Haynes Thursday 11:45 p.m.
4. James L. Pope Monday 1:13 a.m.
KEYWORDS: HOMICIDE by CNB