          |
 DAVIES SHOOTING SUSPECT CHARGED 1/6/04 (New Orleans) -- A
25-year-old man is being held in custody by police after the wounding of the Kinks' lead
singer Ray Davies in a shooting incident. Jerome Barra, from New Orleans, has been charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery. A second suspect is still being sought. Davies, 59, was shot in the leg while chasing two men who had stolen his girlfriend's purse, police reported. The singer had hospital treatment but the injury was not serious. Police said two men in a car approached the couple before one man jumped out and threatened them with a handgun. His girlfriend handed over her purse but Davies ran after the robber, who fled on foot. The couple, who were on vacation in the city, memorized the car license plate and later gave it to police. Davies' manager Deke Arlon said: "He's in hospital but it is not really serious. He should be up and about in a day or so. "The message that came back to me was that he is in good spirits." Police chief Eddie Compass said he was sorry for what happened, but Davies "showed poor judgment" in running after the robbers. More than 500 police officers were in the area because of crowds just blocks away who were watching the Sugar Bowl American football game. Davies's wounding comes just days after he was awarded a CBE by the Queen of England in the New Year's Honours list. A court date for Mr. Barra has not yet been set. 
|
|
