THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190287
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 55 lines
WASHINGTON - Finishing second in a statewide competition apparently rang set off the wrong bell for band leaders at a Fairfax, Va., high school.
When the marching band from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax failed to win top honors last month in a statewide competition, band leader Kent Baker threw the second - place trophy in the trash, while hundreds gathered at Bayside High School's football field in Virginia Beach watched.
Phil Simon, the band's other director, also refused the prize.
School administrators suspended Baker and Simon for two weeks. They have since written letters of apology and are working on a plan to make band less competitive.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA Slain robber identified
TYSONS CORNER - Authorities Friday identified a bank robbery suspect killed by a police officer while fleeing a holdup.
Fairfax police identified the man as Tariq Khan, a 32-year-old immigrant from Pakistan who moved to this country about five years ago. Police said Khan robbed the Riggs Bank at Tysons Corner Center mall on Thursday. As he was leaving the bank, he ran into a police officer. Khan fired first, lightly wounding Officer Troy S. Payne. Payne returned fire and hit Khan in the back. SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA Male teachers increasing
ROANOKE - As a result of a recruiting campaign in recent years, Roanoke is two teachers away from reaching a goal for an elementary teaching staff that includes 50 men - or 10 percent of the 500 elementary teachers - by the 1998-99 school year.
If the trend continues, the city will have at least 50 male elementary teachers by next year. It hired six men this year.
Also . . .
CHARLOTTESVILLE - A smoldering smoke bomb tossed into an apartment may have caused the fire that killed University of Virginia student Elizabeth McGowan Thursday, authorities said.
Two students told police they threw two smoke bombs inside McGowan's front door, apparently as a prank, after several smoke bombs placed outside went unnoticed, said police Capt. A.E. Rhodenizer.
COMING UP
TODAY: Richmond - The Richmond Association of Black Journalists hosts a forum on the power of minority voters, 9 a.m., Wall Auditorium at Virginia Union University. - From Associated Press reports by CNB