THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181615
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
A 20-year-old man playing dominoes at a restaurant was gunned down in front of at least 10 other patrons Friday night by a rifle-wielding assailant disguised from head to toe in black.
The killing was the city's 36th this year, tying a record set in 1992.
Michael McCormick of the 5600 block of Darby Close in Churchland was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gunman strolled into TJ's Restaurant in the 600 block of Lincoln St. at about 7:11 p.m. and opened fire with an assault rifle, said police spokesman Jimmy Ennis. He fired at least three times as other customers first watched in horror and then scattered for cover, Ennis said. McCormick was struck more than once.
The gunman's face was covered with a black ski mask, and his head with a black hood, Ennis said.
Jerry Anthony said he was at the cash register when the assailant entered. McCormick was sitting with four others at a table near the front of the restaurant, playing dominoes and eating, Anthony said.
He said he heard three shots, then dropped to the floor and crawled into the kitchen. Dominoes were scattered around the table where McCormick was sitting.
Police could not say whether the gunman arrived at the restaurant on foot or in a vehicle. Nor did they know how he left the scene.
``He just walked up to the table and opened fire,'' Ennis said.
The restaurant-lounge is in a small strip shopping center on Lincoln Street.
KEYWORDS: MURDER SHOOTING RECORD by CNB