Shootings Tennessee

Memphis was a city in mourning Thursday--flags were at half-staff, bouquets of flowers were placed on fire hall steps and firefighters and law officers wore black bands across their badges. All were in memory of two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy who were slain Wednesday--allegedly by one of their comrades, firefighter Fred Williams--in a rampage that has angered and saddened this Mississippi River city.

A firefighter killed in an ambush shooting while trying to save a burning residence took his last ride on a firetruck Saturday aboard a pumper named for his father, a firefighter who also died on the job. Lt. Javier Lerma, 41, died along with another firefighter and a Shelby County sheriff's deputy Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on them as they responded to a house fire. The suspected gunman's wife also was killed. He and a bystander were wounded.

The driver of a Southeastern Trailways bus taking a Greyhound route was shot and critically wounded, prompting strike-plagued Greyhound on Sunday to rule out contract talks until a week has passed without gunfire. "It's an open-and-shut case of terrorism," said Fred G. Currey, chairman and chief executive officer of Greyhound Lines Inc. "We will not negotiate with people who are involved in terrorism." Representatives of striking drivers denied responsibility.

Memphis was a city in mourning Thursday--flags were at half-staff, bouquets of flowers were placed on fire hall steps and firefighters and law officers wore black bands across their badges. All were in memory of two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy who were slain Wednesday--allegedly by one of their comrades, firefighter Fred Williams--in a rampage that has angered and saddened this Mississippi River city.

A man was so incensed when his car died on him that he pulled out a military assault rifle and shot it, police say. The sight of the man firing the AK-47 at the empty car startled motorists. "I understand he unloaded three 30-round clips into the vehicle," Sheriff Enoch George said. Boyd Kelly, 39, told police he was angry at the 1988 Oldsmobile for quitting on him just after 10 p.m. Saturday. Kelly was charged with a weapons violation and freed on $2,500 bond.

Tim Frost, 19, a freshman defensive back at Tennessee, was arrested early Sunday for allegedly firing a pistol at a Knoxville policeman called to a disturbance at a fraternity party. Frost, from Scottsdale, Ga., was charged with attempted murder and several weapons violations. He was released on $35,000 bond.

A sniper fired at a Greyhound bus on an interstate highway Saturday, wounding two passengers in the second such incident in the same area in three days, police said. One passenger was hit in the left foot and the other, sitting next to him, was struck in the left leg. Both men were treated at a hospital and released, officers said.

A 15-year-old youth in Bedford, Tenn., killed his father with a rifle, then shot and wounded his mother when he fired at the bathroom door behind which she was hiding, police said. Matthew Hardrick was captured shortly after the shooting when he crashed his family's car about 25 miles from home. Police did not say whether they knew of a possible motive. The youth was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Firefighters responding to a house fire Wednesday were ambushed by an off-duty Memphis firefighter who stepped out of the garage and began shooting, authorities said. Two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy were killed and a woman was found dead in the garage. The suspected gunman, Fred Williams, was wounded and was undergoing surgery, Police Director Walter E. Crews said. A bystander also was wounded, but not seriously.

A firefighter killed in an ambush shooting while trying to save a burning residence took his last ride on a firetruck Saturday aboard a pumper named for his father, a firefighter who also died on the job. Lt. Javier Lerma, 41, died along with another firefighter and a Shelby County sheriff's deputy Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on them as they responded to a house fire. The suspected gunman's wife also was killed. He and a bystander were wounded.

Firefighters responding to a house fire Wednesday were ambushed by an off-duty Memphis firefighter who stepped out of the garage and began shooting, authorities said. Two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy were killed and a woman was found dead in the garage. The suspected gunman, Fred Williams, was wounded and was undergoing surgery, Police Director Walter E. Crews said. A bystander also was wounded, but not seriously.

A 15-year-old youth in Bedford, Tenn., killed his father with a rifle, then shot and wounded his mother when he fired at the bathroom door behind which she was hiding, police said. Matthew Hardrick was captured shortly after the shooting when he crashed his family's car about 25 miles from home. Police did not say whether they knew of a possible motive. The youth was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

A man was so incensed when his car died on him that he pulled out a military assault rifle and shot it, police say. The sight of the man firing the AK-47 at the empty car startled motorists. "I understand he unloaded three 30-round clips into the vehicle," Sheriff Enoch George said. Boyd Kelly, 39, told police he was angry at the 1988 Oldsmobile for quitting on him just after 10 p.m. Saturday. Kelly was charged with a weapons violation and freed on $2,500 bond.

A white serial killer who targeted blacks, Jews and interracial couples, and who admits to attacks on civil rights leader Vernon E. Jordan Jr. and Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing a black man here in 1978. In a plea bargain, Joseph Paul Franklin was sentenced to two life terms: one for shooting William Tatum outside a restaurant because Tatum was with a white woman, and the other for an unrelated 1977 armed robbery in Chattanooga.

Tim Frost, 19, a freshman defensive back at Tennessee, was arrested early Sunday for allegedly firing a pistol at a Knoxville policeman called to a disturbance at a fraternity party. Frost, from Scottsdale, Ga., was charged with attempted murder and several weapons violations. He was released on $35,000 bond.

The driver of a Southeastern Trailways bus taking a Greyhound route was shot and critically wounded, prompting strike-plagued Greyhound on Sunday to rule out contract talks until a week has passed without gunfire. "It's an open-and-shut case of terrorism," said Fred G. Currey, chairman and chief executive officer of Greyhound Lines Inc. "We will not negotiate with people who are involved in terrorism." Representatives of striking drivers denied responsibility.

A white serial killer who targeted blacks, Jews and interracial couples, and who admits to attacks on civil rights leader Vernon E. Jordan Jr. and Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing a black man here in 1978. In a plea bargain, Joseph Paul Franklin was sentenced to two life terms: one for shooting William Tatum outside a restaurant because Tatum was with a white woman, and the other for an unrelated 1977 armed robbery in Chattanooga.

A sniper fired at a Greyhound bus on an interstate highway Saturday, wounding two passengers in the second such incident in the same area in three days, police said. One passenger was hit in the left foot and the other, sitting next to him, was struck in the left leg. Both men were treated at a hospital and released, officers said.