The Roanoke Times

Printed Oct. 2, 2000

A grand jury indicted Ronald Edward Gay on Monday on aggravated malicious wounding and firearms charges in the Sept. 22 shootings that left one dead and six wounded at the Backstreet Cafe.

Gay, 54, had already been charged with the first-degree murder of Danny Lee Overstreet, 43, at the Salem Avenue nightspot frequented by gays and lesbians. Overstreet's homicide was the fourth in the city this year.

Shots fired from a 9mm Ruger just before midnight hit six others at the bar that night, police say. But until Monday, Gay had not been charged in their shootings.

"This is just a formality now, to get these charges placed," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John McNeil said.

The grand jury charged Gay with six counts of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of shooting into an occupied building. The jury also charged him with six counts of using a firearm in the commission of malicious wounding, meaning each came after the first shot fired in the club that night, McNeil said.

Police have said that Gay confessed to the shootings, which might have been sparked by his distress about connotations associated with his last name.

If convicted of all the charges, Gay could face a prison sentence of at least 180 years -- 20 years to life on the murder charge and each aggravated malicious wounding count, and 40 years on the firearms charges, McNeil said.

The aggravated malicious wounding charges may be amended later, though. To prove them, prosecutors would have to show the wounding caused "permanent and significant physical impairment," according to Virginia law. The commonwealth's attorney's office is tracking the victims' progress.

Only one -- Iris Page Webb, 41, of Dublin -- remains hospitalized. Webb, who was shot in the neck, was moved last weekend out of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital's intensive care unit. She was listed in stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday afternoon.

John Collins, shot in the stomach, was released from the hospital Friday. Collins, 39, of Roanoke, lost parts of both intestines and his colon, and will have to wear a colostomy bag for at least three months.

Others wounded were: Susan S. Smith, 45, shot in the right leg with the bullet exiting the buttocks; Linda R. Conyers, 41, shot in the right arm and hand; Joel I. Tucker, 40, shot in the small of the back; and Kathy S. Caldwell, 36, shot in the left hand and right shoulder.

Gay faces an Oct. 16 preliminary hearing on the murder charge, and is tentatively set for trial in January.

Tad Dickens can be reached at 981-3236 or tadd@roanoke.com

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