Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Franklin County sheriff's deputies were alerted by Roanoke detectives that Darren L. Cobbs was at the Long Branch Mobile Home Park on Virginia 707 with his former girlfriend, Sheree Hairston, police said.
Deputies arrested Cobbs, of Roanoke, without incident about 10:30 p.m. Hairston was unharmed and returned to her Roanoke home.
A small-caliber handgun was found on Cobbs, according to Lt. Ewell Hunt of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. He was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Information on Cobbs' condition was unavailable.
The search for Cobbs and Hairston began at 3 p.m. at Hunting Hills Plaza in Southwest Roanoke. Police say a man fired several shots at Hair Trends Inc. on Franklin Road, then kidnapped Hairston, fleeing in a waiting car.
The man had walked into the salon asking to speak with Hairston, according to Sandra Simmons, an owner of the shop. Hairston, 19, is an assistant hairdresser at the salon.
Hairston talked with the man inside for a while, then talked outside for about 15 minutes. Several worried employees tried to get Hairston back inside the salon, but she continued to speak with the man.
When a concerned employee grabbed Hairston's arm to bring her inside, the man pulled a gun, pointed it inside the salon and fired, Simmons said.
``At that point, everybody backed up,'' and one of the employees called 911, Simmons said.
The man dragged Hairston on the sidewalk, fired two more shots and fled in a waiting car - an older blue model. The car was driven by a second man.
Police did not release the name of the second man late Tuesday. They said he had not been charged, but was being questioned.
by CNB