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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 16, 1995                   TAG: 9508160086
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MAN WHO FIRED GUN CITES THREAT

The Salem man whose house was surrounded by police Monday night after he fired a rifle told police he shot the gun because three boys had thrown something at him.

Frank Lawrence, 77, said he walked outside his Iowa Street home sometime before 9 p.m. and saw the boys sitting on the back porch of a neighboring house, Salem Police Capt. James R. Bryant said. When the boys threw something at him, he threatened to go inside and get a gun, Lawrence told Bryant.

A few minutes later, Bryant said, Lawrence came back outside and fired the gun. Police are not sure which way the bullet traveled.

Bryant said the boys have denied Lawrence's accusation.

Just after 9 p.m., police surrounded Lawrence's house, across from Valleydale Foods. About 90 minutes later, the Salem Emergency Response Team approached the house and persuaded Lawrence to come out. He was taken into custody about 11 p.m.

Lawrence was charged with discharging a firearm and brandishing a weapon, Bryant said. He was free on bond Tuesday.

by CNB