DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150360

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   42 lines

MURDER SUSPECT FAILS TO APPEAR FOR HEARING

A man accused in the May 19 stabbing death of a Virginia Beach man has apparently skipped out on bond and is now suspected in a home invasion robbery, police said Friday.

Prentice Lamont Boone, 20, of the 2600 block of Golden Leaf Drive, was being held on murder charges until he posted a $25,000 bond and was released. He was to have appeared for a court hearing Thursday, but he did not appear.

And now, Det. Dick Black said, Boone is suspected of being one of three men who barged into a Great Bridge home Oct. 7 and held three occupants at gunpoint during a robbery.

``No one was hurt,'' Black said. When the gunmen couldn't find any money, they took a video game and clothing. Police have not identified the other two men who took part in the robbery.

Boone's murder charges stem from the death of John Emmett Neary, 21, of the 600 block of Lord Dunmore Drive.

Neary was killed after he and his friends went to an apartment in the 2600 block of Golden Leaf Drive about 1 a.m. on May 19.

An argument started when the friends arrived at the apartment complex. A neighbor complained about noise and asked the visitors to be quiet. Neary allegedly shoved the neighbor into his apartment. The resident allegedly came out with a large knife and stabbed Neary to death, police said.

Black said Boone should be considered armed and dangerous.

Boone is described as black, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 155 pounds. He no longer wears his hair with dreadlocks as shown in a police lineup photo taken at the time of his original arrest.

He frequents the Crestwood and Arbor Glen sections of the city.

Anyone with information on Boone's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Line at 487-1234. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Prentice Lamont Boone, 20, was being held on murder charges until he

posted a $25,000 bond and was released. KEYWORDS: MURDER FAILURE TO APPEAR HEARING

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