DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040424

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT

DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   25 lines

TEEN-AGER ACCUSED OF KILLING MAN WHO CHALLENGED MUSIC

A teen-ager playing loud music in his car was accused of killing a man by running over him when the man complained about the noise in his neighborhood, police said.

The identity of the 17-year-old suspect was withheld because of his age. He was charged with reckless driving and manslaughter in the death of Emerson Orton.

Orton, 39, died Monday at 10:30 p.m. at Riverside Regional Medical Center, almost an hour after the incident, according to police Lt. Hubbard Davis. He had severe head injuries.

Neighbors said Orton told the teen-ager, who did not live in the area, to turn his music down. Orton and the youth argued briefly before the teen-ager put the car in reverse and hit Orton, Davis said.

Orton had a reputation of being protective of his neighborhood, according to David Riley, president of Grandview Island Improvement League.

``Emerson would confront people,'' Riley said. ``He wasn't shy.'' KEYWORDS: ARREST MANSLAUGHTER

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