THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997 TAG: 9701030543
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 35 lines
An Elizabeth City man, apparently playing Russian roulette, died Thursday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound of the head, Elizabeth City police said.
Police said Kenneth Lee Evans, 32, of the 600 block of N. Martin Street, shot himself with a .38-caliber revolver about 2:30 a.m. Thursday near a Hughes Boulevard convenience store in Elizabeth City.
Evans, who was unemployed, and his brother, 35-year-old Ray Evans, had spent the evening at an Elizabeth City nightclub, where the two were celebrating the New Year, police said.
Police said the brothers were driving to a convenience store when the younger Evans began playing with a gun.
``Ray was driving, and he kept fussing at him about playing with the gun,'' said Capt. W.G. Williams of the Elizabeth City Police Department.
At first, Kenneth Evans pointed the unloaded gun at the car's floor board and pulled the trigger. Then he loaded one bullet, put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The gun did not go off, Williams said.
Evans tried again a moment later, and this time the gun fired just as the pair was pulling into the convenience store parking lot. Ray Evans ran into the store to call for help.
When emergency personnel arrived, Kenneth Evans was still holding the gun in his hand, Williams said.
Evans died later in the day at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police were waiting for a report from the hospital to determine if alcohol had been involved, Williams said.
The gun's ownership also was under investigation.
KEYWORDS: SUICIDE SHOOTING