Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 9, 1993 TAG: 9302090271
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
MAN KILLS DAUGHTER, EX-WIFE OVER BABY TOOTH
A man who "didn't give anyone a chance to reason with him" died in a hail of police gunfire after he fatally shot his 5-year-old daughter and estranged wife.William L. Wooten, who had legal custody of the child, began beating his wife and her family in an argument over the girl, police said. Wooten was angry that a family member had decided to pull one of the girl's baby teeth, police said.
Someone called police, and two officers responded. When the officers arrived, they walked into the house to find Wooten holding his daughter in one arm and a handgun at his head. The officers retreated.
"They knew they had a hostage situation and they left right then," police spokesman Larry Hill said.
As soon as the officers left the house, they radioed for the Police Department's SWAT team and hostage negotiators. Meantime, other officers arrived and took up positions around the house.
Fifteen minutes later - before negotiators arrived - Wooten and his wife Carmen, both 28, and 5-year-old Landi Wooten were dead.
"He just didn't give anyone a chance to reason with him," Hill said.
Wooten also wounded the child's grandmother, Lana Gatewood, 49. She was in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in stable condition.
Police said Wooten came to the Gatewood home Saturday night enraged over the loose tooth. The girl was spending a scheduled weekend with her mother.
"It turned into another excuse for him to build up his anger against his family," Hill said.
Police were called to the home about 8:30 p.m.
About 15 minutes later, six shots were fired inside the house, and Wooten came out of a side door, still carrying the gun.
Police ordered him to drop the weapon and fall to the ground. Wooten was shot when he raised the gun and moved to flee, police said.