Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 16, 1990 TAG: 9006160373
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Although the fatal shooting was about a mile and a quarter from the party on Kershaw Road, police said it happened after a gathering that turned into a "mass disorder."
Lonnie Davis Jr., of the 1800 block of 10th Street Northwest, died of several gunshot wounds about 2:05 a.m., police said.
Iven Pernell Thompson, of the 4900 block of Grandview Avenue Northwest, has been charged with murder.
Police said the shooting, which happened on the 2500 block of Marr Street Northwest, apparently stemmed from an argument about blocked traffic on a crowded street near the graduation party.
Authorities estimated that at least 400 young people congregated on Kershaw Road, just north of the Roanoke Country Club. The party was for William Fleming High School's Class of 1990, which had graduated Thursday.
An argument broke out after a party-goer began to complain loudly that he could not drive through a street that was blocked by parked cars.
As hostility grew, at least two carloads of youths headed to the area of Thompson's home on Grandview Avenue to continue an altercation, police said.
Thompson and Davis squared off at an apartment complex on Marr Street, just off Grandview not far from Valley View Mall.
Davis was shot at least three times as he approached a rival group in front of an apartment building, police said.
Authorities discovered evidence suggesting that armed youths may have planned a standoff. Police found four guns that had been hidden under an air-conditioning unit near where the shooting occurred.
As police arrived, members of the group pointed out a fleeing person who they indicated had done the shooting.
Police gave chase, with the group following close behind. Some of the group members found the man hiding behind a bush and began to beat him before police could intervene.
The group was so violent that Mace had to be used to free the man, authorities said. Police then learned that the man apparently had nothing to do with the shooting.
Sometime later, Thompson was surrendered to police by a family member in the parking lot of a business on Hershberger Road.
Authorities had difficulty breaking up the crowd on Kershaw Road, hosted by Robert and Frances Brown for their son, Larry, a Fleming graduate.
Police reported that shots were fired, threats were shouted and several fights broke out at the party.
But Frances Brown said Friday that none of the trouble happened on Kershaw Road, which had been blocked off for the party in accordance with a city permit.
Most of the trouble with disorderly behavior and blocked traffic, Brown said, was on nearby Forest Park Boulevard and other adjacent streets.
"Beyond the barricade, we had no control," she said. "But I think the youths who were on Kershaw Road for the party were very orderly."
Paul Shull Jr., 19, of Fenwick Drive told police he was passing the area to drop off a passenger on Pittsfield Circle when people approached him and began to kick his car.
The group caused about $500 damage to Shull's car before he was able to get away, police said.
by CNB