THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 14, 1996 TAG: 9610140037
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 89 lines
Four teen-agers were wounded and as many as 11 others were injured early Sunday when a man opened fire with a handgun at a party being held in a sedate, tree-lined neighborhood.
Three of the shooting victims were treated at hospitals and released; the fourth remained hospitalized. They were wounded in the 1000 block of Fairlawn Ave., in the L & J Gardens subdivision.
In a melee that preceded the wounding of the four teen-agers, police said 11 others were injured as they tried to flee a man who began shooting inside the brick ranch home.
Witnesses reported people kicking out windows to get away from the man, who remains at large.
``We're real lucky this was not a lot worse,'' said police spokesman Mike Carey.
According to police, between 75 and 100 people - most of them apparently teen-agers - were attending the party on Fairlawn when two unidentified men showed up about 12:30 a.m. It was not clear to police whether the two had been invited or showed up on their own.
The two men entered the house, and one got into an argument with someone. Sunday evening, Carey said investigators were still trying to determine what the argument was about.
Moments later, one of the men pulled out a handgun and began firing. Pandemonium broke out, with dozens of people desperately trying to get outside to avoid being hit. Some broke windows and exited through them, which police said led to the 11 people being injured by glass.
After shots were fired inside, the two suspects left through the front door and one apparently confronted four youths standing in the yard. All were shot before the two men left in what witnesses described as a blue Geo Tracker, or a vehicle of similar size.
Police identified the four gunshot victims as: Jerome Kidd, 17; Jermaine Wilson, 16; and Demetres Rudolph, 15, all of Virginia Beach; and Jonathan Walker, 19, of Norfolk. All but Kidd were treated at Virginia Beach General Hospital and released. Kidd, who underwent surgery, was listed in fair condition at an undisclosed hospital.
The names of the 11 wounded revelers were not released. None of their injuries was life threatening, police said.
Police identified the occupant of the house as Christopher Pierce, 21. A man who answered the door later on Sunday declined an interview. Friends of the occupant stopped by throughout the day to visit.
L & J Gardens is a generally sedate neighborhood filled with brick ranch homes, and towering pine and oak trees. Adjacent to Virginia Wesleyan College and near Lake Wright, the neighborhood is home to retired schoolteachers and other professionals, and was once the home of a former member of Virginia Beach City Council, the late John Perry.
``I've lived here 40 years and I've never had a problem with anything,'' said Eddie E.L. Tolentino, 69, a retired civil service worker. ``We have all kinds of retired teachers and lawyers living here. I doubt that any of the neighbors would know what happened last night, because most of them were asleep.''
Tolentino said Pierce has lived alone since his grandmother was taken back to Chicago by her daughter this summer.
He said he was awake only because his wife was baking brownies for a church meeting when he heard the four gunshots.
``They sounded just like firecrackers,'' he said. ``I didn't think anything of it until I saw all the police cars arrive. Even then, they didn't have their sirens on. They just pulled up with those blue lights on.'' ILLUSTRATION: VP [Map]
THE SUPSECTS
Police gave the following descriptions of the two suspects:
The gunman was a black man with a light complexion. He was tall
and thin, about 19 years old, with a mustache, goatee and gold teeth
in the front. He was last seen wearing a multicolored Nautica
jacket.
The second suspect was also black and about 19. He wore a
camouflage jacket.
Anyone with information should call Virginia Beach Crime Solvers,
427-0000. Callers may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward
of up to $1,000.
Police gave the following descriptions of the two suspects:
The gunman was a black man with a light complexion. He was tall
and thin, about 19 years old, with a mustache, goatee and gold teeth
in the front. He was last seen wearing a multicolored Nautica
jacket.
The second suspect was also black and about 19. He wore a
camouflage jacket.
Anyone with information should call Virginia Beach Crime Solvers,
427-0000. Callers may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward
of up to $1,000.
KEYWORDS: SHOOTING INJURIES by CNB