THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
After the death of a 22-year-old man in the Downtown Tunnel, a state transportation official Tuesday said it was was not hard for the suspects to escape on foot during the Monday afternoon rush hour.
``It is very conceivable,'' said Bill Cannell, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. ``We have cars stopped all the time. . . . Someone could pull the car aside and get out of the tunnel.''
The victim was identified Tuesday as Ephrem D. Garner of Brooklyn, N.Y. He was shot in the chest and then fell half-way out of the stopped car, which had been traveling from Norfolk to Portsmouth. Dozens of motorists saw the suspects running out of the tube's Portsmouth exit, police said.
Tunnel personnel were stationed halfway through the tube, in a silver-colored shelter, Cannell said. He was not sure if they were able to see the suspects from their post.
The tunnel's 11 video cameras, posted 380 feet apart, briefly captured the fleeing suspects. The tapes were turned over to police, and were not made public.
Cannell said the cameras are monitored at all times for traffic problems.
``We have enough cameras to watch a car drive all the way through the tunnel,'' he said. ``There are no blind spots.''
The dark green 1992 Lexus in which the shooting allegedly occurred stopped not far from the Portsmouth end of the tunnel, state police spokeswoman Tammy Van Dame said. Traffic was able to stop behind the Lexus.
State police responded after commuters with cellular phones sentout 911 calls, despite tunnel reception interference, she said.
After the incident the tunnel was closed for three hours, and traffic was directed to the Midtown Tunnel.
The Lexus was registered to a Virginia Beach resident and does not appear to be stolen, Van Dame said. She did not identify the owner.
State police described the suspects as two black men about 19 or 20 years old.
One is 5 feet 7, about 150 pounds, with a short to medium afro haircut and clean-shaven. He was wearing a black hip-length jacket, blue jeans and dark shoes.
Police said he may have suffered a gunshot wound to the face.
The other suspect was described as 5 feet 9, about 150 pounds, with a short to medium afro. He was wearing a long white shirt with blue and red stripes and faded blue jeans.
State police did not release any additional information on the victim. They are asking anyone with information to call (800) 582-8350. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tuesday's shooting victim was Ephrem D. Garner.
Staff photo by TAMARA VONINSKI/
Senior traffic controller Connie Tucker keeps close watch on the
screens that monitor each side of the Downtown Tunnel. The tunnel's
11 video cameras briefly captured the fleeing suspects.
KEYWORDS: SUSPECT MURDER SHOOTING PORTSMOUTH TUNNEL
by CNB