
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 3, 1990                   TAG: 9005030496
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MERCHANT CHARGED WITH SHOOTING AT ALLEGED THIEF

The owner of a Southwest Roanoke convenience store has been charged with shooting at a man who tried to steal a case of beer from the store, police said Wednesday.

Ralph A. Pugh, owner of the Stop & Shop at 716 Marshall Ave. S.W., was arraigned Wednesday morning in Roanoke General District Court on a charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter.

Police said a man walked into the store at 1:37 p.m. Monday, took two 12-packs of beer from a cooler and fled.

Barry Lynn Arthur, 20, of the 2900 block of Salem Turnpike Northwest, later was charged with petty larceny. Because Arthur has been convicted of petty larceny previously, the offense would be a felony.

As the man fled the store, Pugh followed him outside and shouted for him to stop, police said.

Pugh, 48, then allegedly fired with a small-caliber handgun, police said.

The man - who was unarmed - placed the beer on the ground and fled. Police who responded to the store found Arthur in a nearby alley.

While Arthur told police that the shots were fired in his direction, Pugh maintained he shot his pistol into the air, police said.

by CNB