Surry County-Norfolk-Newport News City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gay, John A., 1971 

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JOHN ALBERT GAY 

TEMPE MAN KILLED BY POLICEMAN IN LINE OF DUTY, JURY DECIDES 

  MESA - A coroner's jury found yesterday that a Tempe man died Sept. 21 of 
gunshot wounds and that a Tempe policeman had fired the shots in the line of 
duty. 

  Testimony at the inquest, conducted by West Mesa Justice of the Peace L.E. 
Mulleneaux, revealed that the victim, John Gay, 35, of 1431 ½ Bonarden Lane, 
had been despondent for several months and repeatedly had threatened to commit 
suicide. 

  Mrs. Rose Gay said her husband had told her he was an epileptic and took 
phenobarbital and Dilantil prescribed by a physician for treatment of 
epilepsy.  She said he became despondent after he was injured in an automobile 
accident on May 14. 

  On Sept. 21, Mrs. Gay testified, Gay helped her at the restaurant where she 
was a waitress, but was "confused" and several times threatened to take an 
overdose of the drugs he was taking for epileptic seizures.  After work, she 
testified, she joined him at a nearby tavern, but he left without her. 

  Andrew Gay, 15, said he called police and requested an ambulance for his 
stepfather after he discovered Gay had taken most of the medication in the two 
bottles which testimony indicated had been refilled recently. 

  Dr. S. David Kutob, chief county toxicologist, testified that the autopsy 
revealed barbiturates had reached the bloodstream of the victim and mixed with 
alcohol. 

  The medical examiner's report indicated death was caused by the gunshot 
wounds, but that Gay had consumed the alcohol and drugs. 

  Schumann testified that he went to the Gay residence after police received 
the call from Andrew Gay.  He said Gay refused to go to the hospital and he 
was trying to persuade him to seek medical help when Gay pulled a gun from a 
table in the living room and aimed it at the officer. 

  "He said, 'you'll have to kill me first' and pointed the weapon at my 
midsection," Schumann said.  "The weapon, which I learned was a BB gun, 
resembled the 45-caliber automatic pistol I have." 

  Schumann said he believed his life was in danger, and he pulled his revolver 
and fired six shots. 

  Sgt. Richard Christianson, who investigated the shooting for the Tempe 
police, said the gun Gay pulled was an exact replica of a 45-claiber automatic 
pistol." 

  Two other Tempe policemen, James Hill and Robert L. Hanna, testified that 
they had investigated previous family fights involving Gay.  Hall said Gay had 
threatened him with a pocketknife about 10 weeks ago. 

  The jury found the shooting of Gay by officer Schumann was justifiable 
homicide.  Schumann had been placed on leave with pay during the 
investigation. 

  "He has been returned to official duty with the department," Tempe Police 
Chief Arthur Fairbanks said yesterday afternoon. 


"Jack" John Albert GAY, 
b. 18 May 1936, Fairfax Co., suicide 21 Sep 1971, at home, Tempe, AZ, 
interred in Rocky Hock Methodist Church Cemetery (Plot 41*), 
"Arizona Republic," Oct. 2, 1971, p. 5 

*Rocky Hock list, an extension of the 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/cemeteries/rockyhk.txt 

His parents, Dr. Ryland Ashton & Florence Lillian (VAUGHAN) GAY**, 
   are buried in the same plot. 

A photo of his gravestone is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #136965494. 

His father's obit ("Daily Press," Aug. 4, 1989, p. 23) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g000a4ob.txt 

His mother's (donated, 1995) obit is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g000f4ob.txt 

**The record of his first marriage, to Doris Lee Hubbard, 8 Oct 1955, in 
   Clinton, IN, gives son of Roland A. & Florence F. GAY. (Ancestry.com 
   "Indiana Marriages 1810-2001")  They divorced.  Doris d. in 2003 as 
   Patricia Lyn TRAGER. 
   
The record of his second marriage, to Willie Mabel JOHNSON, 18 Apr 1962, 
   in Norfolk, gives son of Roland Ashton & Florence (FRANKLIN) GAY. 
   (M.Cert. 7846 {Norfolk #525})  They divorced in 1964. 

Jack's maternal grandmother was Florence Lillian (FRANKLIN; Mrs. Henry F.) 
   VAUGHAN. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/g000j8ob.txt