Second Victim Dies in Danville Shooting

By Aimee Norton

Published: February 5, 2008

Just after six Monday evening a car ran off the road into a fence along the Goodyear Golf Club on Jenny Lane in Danville.  Police thought they were responding to a car crash. Instead, it turned into a shooting investigation.

Police say two men were inside the car.  The driver, Tony Howerton, 55, shot, and pronounced dead at the scene.  The passenger, Charles Harris, 53, was still alive, but had been shot in the head.  He was taken to Danville Regional Medical Center and then on to Duke Medical Center where he later died.

The car ran off the road, down an embankment and through the fence, which was fixed early Tuesday morning.

For Roy and Dorris Murphy it’s still hard to believe this happened right on their street.

“Well it kind of worried us a little bit because we knew something happened. We don’t know what happened as far as drug related or whatever it was, but it’s too close to the families that live here,” said Roy Murphy.

Tuesday, police weren’t saying much about the investigation.  An officer did tell WSLS they don’t have enough evidence to say it was drug related.  But it’s not knowing what happened that has people like the Murphys concerned.

“If you actually knew if they live in the neighborhood or where they were going or what was going on, that would make a difference too,” said Dorris Murphy.  “It could have happened anywhere and that kind of makes you nervous too.”

Howerton’s body is being taken to the Medical Examiner’s office in Roanoke. 

If you have any information about this incident, call Danville Crimestoppers at (434) 793-0000.