Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-11
Husband Held Here
For Extradifion in
Fatal Shooting Of Wife
Man Claims She Drew
Pistol; Doesn't Recall
Firing Weapon

Victor Risi, 80, of the 1000 block
of North Carolina avenue s E., who
yesterday surrendered to police in
the fatal shooting Of his wife, Mrs.
Lula Risi, 40, of 1880 G street NE,
on q wooded knoll near Oxon Hill,
Nd, was held at the first precinct
today pending extradition to Mary
land.
Small. dark comp1exioned and
seemingly bewildered by the rapid
succession of events that followed
the tragedy, Risi was to appear in
court today with his attorney, for
mer Asst. District Attorney Allen
Krouse. Risi is held on a technical
charge of being fugitive from JUS
tice. A truck driver at the Belle
vue Powder Magazine, he was ex-
pected to waive extradition.
The shooting occurred in a heav-
lily wooded, secluded spot about 100
yards beyond the District line about
1880 pm. Several hours later Risi,
after returning for a change of
clothing and accompanied by Mr..
Krouse, surrendered at police head
quarters.
Had Appointment With Wife.
Police said Risi had an appoint
ment to take his wife, bookkeeper
for the Hechinger Building Supply
Co., to Mr. Krouse's Office at 100
pm. yesterday to discuss the division
of money from a house they had
owned jointly and recently sold. At
3:45, police said, Risi telephoned the
lawyer, saying he would see him I'm
a few minutes"
Mr.. Krouse said Risi had discussed
getting a divorce with him, but
that no steps in that direction act
ually had been taken.
The exact location of the shooting
has not been definitely ascertained,
and police today were checking to
determine If the wife was shot in
Risis car and left to die on the
wooded knoll. Two bullet holes were
found in the car. Police records
show that in May a loaded shot
gun was found in Risi's car but
no action was taken against him.
Doesn't Remember Shooting.
Recounting the events leading up
to the shooting, Risi yesterday told
police he was talking to his wife
when she suddenly pulled out pis-
tol. He said he grabbed it from
her, then his mind went blank. He
could not remember firing the fatal
shots, one of which drilled through
his wife's forehead.
An autopsy was to be performed
today by DR.. James I. Boyd, deputy
medical examiner Of Prince Georges
County, at the Richie funeral
home, Upper Marlboro, to deter
mine If death was instantaneous.
1t is believed that two shots were
fired. While the pistol had not
been recovered today, police said it
appeared to be 45-caliber. The
woods were being secured for the
death weapon.
Police Taken to Scene.
Risi surrendered here, police said,
because he believed the shooting &C.
CURED in the District. The body was
found just beyond Southern avenue,
the borderline in that section of the
city.
After giving himself up, Risi. took
police to the scene where they found
the wife's body. She was fully
clothed with the exception Of her
shoes, which were found together
beside the body. Her wrist watch
had stopped at $50 pm.
Risi, naturalized citizen, came to
this country from Italy in 1922
When he and his wife were married
was not disclosed, but police said
Risi said they separated in February.