The Virginian-Pilot
NORFOLK, Va. — A man accused of shooting a police officer in the face and wounding him was found guilty Monday of attempted capital murder .
Kenneth Styles , 23, was also convicted of malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, six counts of maliciously shooting into a vehicle, and weapons charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.
Officer Thomas M. Atkinson had responded to a call of shots fired on the 3100 block of Dana St. in May 2006. A witness said Styles shot repeatedly into Atkinson’s police car. One of the bullets grazed Atkinson’s face. He still bears a scar , although he returned to work within a week of the shooting.
Prosecutor Amy Cross said Styles had fired a minimum of six times, judging by the damage to Atkinson’s car. Police found an empty nine-shot .22-caliber revolver, she said.
Styles fled and holed up in his mother’s house. Police surrounded the house, and Styles refused to come out for more than four hours.
Atkinson served as a police officer for more than 20 years and retired several weeks after the shooting. Outside the courtroom, he said “I’m glad it’s over and he’s convicted.”
Copyright 2007 The Virginian-Pilot