THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995            TAG: 9511010512
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   36 lines

FIREARM FALLS FROM CLOTHING, FIRES AND FATALLY WOUNDS YOUTH TEENAGER PLAYING WITH DOG IS STRUCK IN NECK BY BULLET.

Donald Robinson made a fatal mistake.

While playing with a friend's dog, he kept a loaded pistol tucked into his clothes.

Robinson, 16, was playfully slapping the dog, named Powder, when his 9mm semi-automatic fell to the ground and discharged.

One bullet struck Robinson in the neck.

Police said the accidental shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of W. 34th St.

A friend, who asked Tuesday afternoon not to be identified, said she was sitting on her front porch with a few other people when Robinson fell a few feet in front of her.

``He stood up right there . . . about 30 seconds and collapsed,'' she said, pointing to the sidewalk.

The witness, who grew up with Robinson, said a crowd gathered around the teen as he lay wounded. Police quickly arrived.

Robinson, of the 3500 block of Seay Ave., was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

He was first listed in stable condition, but he died about 11 p.m., police spokesman Larry Hill said.

Police are trying to trace the gun's origin, Hill said.

KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT SHOOTING by CNB