The investigation is continuing into the murder of Robert Franklin Bray, 33, of Roxboro, N.C., who police say was shot at least three times sometime between 10:30 p.m. Friday and 5:00 a.m Saturday morning.
According to Capt. Jim Binner of the South Boston Police Department, the preliminary autopsy has been concluded, and local law enforcement are awaiting the results.
Binner said Bray had three visible wounds.
"He was shot once in the head, once in the back and once in the side of the chest," the captain said yesterday.
He noted that all shots appeared to have come from the same weapon.
"We think the weapon was a 9 mm or smaller," Binner said.
Bray was found dead in a borrowed car Saturday evening on the west side of Easley Street between Noblin and Watkins Avenue in South Boston.
The captain said the police are close to determining a motive for the shooting and expect to have a suspect shortly.
"Based on some tips we have received, it's safe to say we are pretty close to determining a motive.
"And we are getting closer to a suspect every day," Binner added.
Bray, who would have celebrated his birthday July 28, was discovered following a 6:47 p.m E-911 call to police.
He was found slumped over in a gray 1987 Thunderbird that Lt. B.K. Lovelace said was owned by his cousin.
"His cousin reported him missing early Saturday morning," Lovelace said shortly after the shooting. "He had borrowed his vehicle about 2 a.m. to go to the store and had not returned."
Bray's wife filed at missing persons report with the Roxboro Police Department at about 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the South Boston officer.
Lt. Lovelace sought the public's help in the case, requesting information from anyone who "might have heard anything early Saturday morning."
Binner thanked the public for their assistance in the investigation.
"This is a very important case to us," he said.
"We really appreciate all the cooperation we have received from the public."
Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Lovelace, the South Boston Police Department at 575-4270, or CrimeStoppers at 575-TIPS.

The Farm Service Agency announced this week that emergency haying and grazing of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program has been authorized to the extremely dry conditions and their effect on hay and pasture.
According to reports, once the landowner enrolled in CRP makes a request for haying or grazing at the FSA Office, the eligible CRP acreage may be cut for hay or grazed through September 1.
The following conditions must also be met:
· At least 50 percent of each field or contiguous fields must be left ungrazed.
· The same CRP acreage may not be both cut for hay and grazed.
· Hay must be cut before September 1 and removed from the field by October 1.
· If grazed, livestock must be removed by September 1.
· The annual rental payment for the CRP acreage cut for hay or grazed will be reduced 25 percent unless the hay or grazing privileges are donated to a livestock producer with a compelling need. Hay or grazing may be leased to another individual, but the annual rental payment reduction will apply to the CRP participant.
Any CRP participant that is interested in these special provisions should visit the FSA Office immediately to file or sign an agreement and to modify the Conservation Plan for the CRP acreage for haying or grazing.
Anyone wanting more information can contact the Halifax County FSA Office at 476-6558.
Although officials are monitoring the situation, South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel and County Administrator Joe Morgan have said no water restrictions are planned for the town or the county at this point.
"We are monitoring the river on a daily basis, but we aren't having any production problems to date," he said yesterday.
But Bruce Pearce of Halifax County Soil and Water Conservation said the drought is reaching epic proportions for farmers.
"I've been in Virginia for over 25 years now, and this is the worst drought I've ever seen," Pearce said.
"Ted's right, South Boston doesn't have a problem right now," he added. "But if Roxboro was pumping water from the Dan River like they're planning on doing, I guarantee South Boston would be under water restrictions."
Morgan said that he agrees with Pearce.
"We would agree with the soil and water folks that people should be conscious of the situation, but we aren't considering any formal plan of action at this time," the county administrator said.
Daniel said officials from the town will join other members of the Roanoke River Basin Association today in Danville to discuss the potential impact of the drought on the region.
"The meeting is to get a regional perspective on the water situation in the RRBA," Daniel said.
But no official restrictions are planned for the Town of South Boston, Daniel said.
But other communities in the area are beginning to ask for water conservation measures.
"We have heard that South Hill is asking people to voluntarily conserve water," Daniel said.
He said that while South Boston is producing much less than the available flow from the Dan River, South Hill is producing 1.2 million gallons per day, about the same as their available flow.
But Daniel said he understands why the governor is calling for water restrictions on a regional level.
"When you look at it on a statewide level like the governor is, you pretty much have to tell people to conserve," the town manager noted.
"But we aren't on a reservoir with a finite amount of water like other communities are," he added.
Pearce said he hopes to see substantial rainfall soon.
"All I know is I hope it rains pretty quickly.
"We didn't get into this drought overnight, and it will take a couple of years of above-average rainfall to get out of it," Pearce said.
Daniel said South Boston could produce more water if it was needed.
"I don't think we need to tell people to conserve water at this point," Daniel said.

Samuel J. Parker is pleased indeed with his tobacco crop.
The Parkers began pulling their leaf last week, filling six or seven barns at the Childrey farm.
Yesterday, Parker and his grandson Christopher Parker inspected one of the family's four to five-acre tobacco plots.
Examining one of the lush leaves, the senior Parker smiled his approval.
"This field has not been irrigated," he added. However, other Parker fields have been.
"We plant early, April 20, before it gets so hot and dry," he explained.
"Pleased so far, if the hail doesn't get us," added Parker.
Yesterday workers were busy topping some the Parkers' 83 acres of tobacco.
It is a family affair in the Childrey countryside, one that includes Samuel, his son Jason and grandson Christopher.
The Parkers, joining the majority of Halifax County tobacco farmers, sell their tobacco through contract rather than the tobacco auction.
However, in the southern part of the county, rain has been sparse this growing season.
So farmers welcomed the 2.6 inch rain in the Virgilina area Wednesday night, expecting their crops to flourish in coming weeks.
Kevin Bohon of the Halifax USDA office said yesterday that although this is normally the time of year farmers begin irrigating their crops, many ponds are at a dangerously low level.
Parker said yesterday that his ponds are almost dry.

A 23-year-old Alton man was convicted Wednesday in Halifax County Circuit Court of two counts of the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Seneca Leamond Wenstley was convicted of the charges after a bench trail before Judge William L. Wellons.
Judge Wellons ordered Wenstley be evaluated for the Detention and Diversion Center programs before remanding him to custody to await sentencing in the September term of court.
· Nicholas Donnell Hughes, 21, of South Boston, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an amended indictment of the possession of crack cocaine and to misdemeanor marijuana possession.
The court found the evidence sufficient to find Hughes guilty, but withheld its finding until a sentencing date in the September term of court.
Judge Wellons ordered Hughes to remain under the supervision of Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services (HPCS) until that time.
· Richard Womack, 43, of Nathalie, was convicted Wednesday of the misdemeanor assault and battery of Mary Womack.
Judge Wellons sentenced Womack to 30 days in jail, with all time suspended, conditoned on Womack's good behavior for 12 months.
The court additionally ordered Womack to have no contact with his victim except for child visitation.
· Nathaniel Gronwy Owen, 19, of Nathalie, and David Michael Riley, 21, of Scottsburg, entered Alford pleas Wednesday to an amended indictment of the petty larceny of a Yamaha 4-wheeler belonging to Matthew and Roger Cassada.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt,but realizes prosecution evidence makes a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
Judge Wellons sentenced both men to 12 months each in jail, with all time suspended, conditioned on their good behavior for 12 months.
· Harry Wells, 43, of Vernon Hill, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an amended indictment of the assault and battery of a household member.
Judge Wellons ordered Wells to be of good behavior until a sentencing date in the next term of court.
The court additionally affirmed a lower court decision convicting Wells of damaging/destroying the personal property of Rose Wells, after Wells withdrew his appeal of the lower court's decision.
Wells received credit for time served and was released from custody on the charge, with restitution to his victim to be set by HPCS.
· James Thomas Hutcherson, 37, of South Boston, had a charge alleging he committed grand larceny of currency belonging to Pensie T. Thaxton dismissed Wednesday after a bench trial.
· Ronnie Lee Cassada Jr., 41, of South Boston, pleaded no contest Wednesday to two counts of felony child neglect.
Judge Wellons ordered Cassada to be released on a $10,000 recognizance bond until sentencing in the September term of court.
The court ordered Cassada to have no contact with the children and abstain from drugs before sentencing in the September term of court.
· Kenneth Alvester Brooks, 31, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of an amended indictment of trespassing on the property of Kelly Lacks.
The commonwealth nol prossed two additional charges against Brooks, one alleging he drove after being declared an habitual offender and the other alleging he obstructed justice.
The court sentenced Brooks to a 12-month suspended jail term, conditioned on his good behavior for 12 months, and to make restitution to his victim in the amount of $50.
Judge Wellons authorized Brooks to work off all court costs at the rate of $10 per hour through HPCS.
· Harrison Jermaine Culley, 36, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.
The court defered imposition of its sentence and placed Culley on probation until November 11, 2002.
· James Donnell Bumpass, 32, of South Boston, was convicted Tuesday of the unauthorized use of an auto belonging to Arthea Newman.
Judge Wellons remanded Bumpass to custody to await sentencing in the September term of court.
· Antwaun Lee Jones, 20, of South Boston was granted first offender status Wednesday by the court on a reduced charge alleging he possessed cocaine.
The court withheld its finding of guilt and remanded Jones to custody to await sentencing in the September term of court.

David Myers hopes to continue the building process when he takes his South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team onto the field tomorrow in West Monroe, La. for the Dixie Majors World Series.
This year is the fourth straight year that a South Boston Dixie Majors team has made it into the big show.
And, Myers is hoping that this year will be the best one yet.
The success of the South Boston team is based on a long-term building process, a process that started in 1997 when South Boston made its first ever appearance in the Dixie Majors World Series.
"In 1997 when we went to the World Series with the Dixie Pre-Majors team, we didn't know what to expect," Myers said.
In 1999, when we went to the World Series as Majors, we played the same team that beat us badly in 1997 and they beat us by only four runs.
"In 2000, we won our first World Series game," Myers continued.
"Last year we won three games and the Sportsmanship Award (the first time a Virginia Dixie Majors team has won the award)."
While South Boston has that successful track record behind it, Myers doesn't expect things to be any easier this time around-at least from a competition standpoint.
What he does feel will be easier for this team is its ability to adapt to play the high level of baseball it will need to play starting this weekend.
"I don't know if this year will be any easier or not," Myers said in eying the competition.
"The point I have stressed to the players is that they have finally realized the level of baseball that has to be played in order to be successful," Myers said.
"They understand now what it is all about. They're not playing local people anymore. They know how to play and know what type of game they have to play in order for them to win and be successful."
Myers said that the competition will come this year from the same teams it has come from in previous seasons, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.
"You know that going into the last two or three days of the tournament they're going to be there," Myers said.
But Virginia and South Boston are fast gaining a good reputation for being a team that can't be overlooked.
"It used to be that everybody wanted to play Virginia," said Myers.
"Now they don't. We have progressed to the point where people don't want to play us."
South Boston was lucky to get a favorable position in the bracket drawings.
The Virginia champions will face the host team, Monroe, La. Saturday at 7 p.m. at the University of Louisiana-Monroe field.
"That's good for us," Myers said.
"The kids like to sleep late and this will give them an opportunity to do some things before they have to play.
"Playing the seven o'clock game is more like playing a seven o'clock game at home," added Myers.
"It's much easier than having to play at say 10 o'clock in the morning or 1 o'clock in the afternoon."
The draw that South Boston got in the bracket appears to be one of the more favorable draws.
"We're playing in the bottom half of the bracket which is a plus," Myers pointed out.
"If we win our first two games (on Saturday and Sunday) we won't see the top of the bracket until Tuesday. By then, half of the teams will have been eliminated."
South Boston has a solid lineup with five players from last year's World Series team, Adam Conner, Brandon Lewis, Brandon Enoch, David Greene and Ron Overbey, back this year.
The South Boston team would have had more returnees had they chosen to play.
"We had a couple of players who were starters last year who chose not to play this year," said Myers.
"We had to make some adjustments but it has all worked out for the best."
As far as pitching is concerned, Myers said he is eying to go with Adam Conner, who pitched this past spring for the Danville Community College team and Jason Lloyd, a starter for this past spring's Halifax County High School team, in the first two games.
Both have seen success as the South Boston team marched through the district and state tournaments.
The South Boston team has only one infielder from last year's team, Brandon Lewis, that is returning from last year's squad.
Myers says he feels good about his team and feels good about its chances.
"This is a good ball team," said Myers.
"We don't smash the ball. We don't throw the ball 100 miles per hour. But they guys play well and they play smart baseball."
Myers is carrying a big team to the World Series, stretching it to maximum size.
"Some of them will play a whole lot, some of them will play some and some may play little," Myers said.
"The goal is to take this team as far as we can possibly take it. However, I have stressed to the players and the parents that if we go somewhere like the World Series that we want as many players from South Boston as possible to have the experience of going to the World Series.
"The experience of going to a World Series, being at the banquet, being a part of the opening ceremony and playing the games is an experience a kid will remember for the rest of his life," he added.
"It's a memory they will never forget."

Check out today's print edition for more information on teams heading to the World Series

Linda Lee Collins Durling

Linda Lee Collins Durling, 52, of 1212 Bold Springs Road, South Boston, died July 22 at 1218 Link Puryear Road, South Boston.
Mrs. Durling was born in Massachusetts on November 21, 1949. She was married to the late Charles William Durling Jr., and was a clerk at Dollar General.
Survivors include her mother, Ethel Collins of Mansfield, MA; seven daughters, Kelly J. Durling of East Bridgewater, MA, Kerrie Durling of Union City, PA, Melinda Durling of North Attleboro, MA, Melissa Durling of Greensboro, NC, Kendra Durling of Cluster Springs, Kimberly Durling of Mansfield and Marcy Durling of Cluster Springs; one son, Michael Durling of Cluster Springs; one brother, Jay Collins of Wareham, MA; her grandmother, Irene Small of Norton, MA; five grandchildren, Nikole, Darryle, Rachyle, Derek and Kayla.
Visitation will be at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel this evening, July 26, from 7:00 until 8:30. Visitation in Massachusetts will be announced later.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Melinda Durling, c/o Brooks Funeral Home, 115 Main St., South Boston, VA 24592.

William Beverly Hughes

William Beverly Hughes, 69, of 2147 Love Shop Road, Halifax, died July 24 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Hughes was born in Halifax County on January 21, 1933, the son of Woodson Hughes and Ruth Nichols Hughes and was married to Eleanor Ford Hughes. He was member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and a member of the Halifax County Saddle Club. He was a retired cattleman.
Memorial services will be held today, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russell Lee and Elder Doug Stacey officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Hughes include his wife; one daughter, Sara Hughes Ware of South Boston; one son, Woodson Hughes of Halifax; four sisters, Eva Hagood, Lucille Brandon and Kathryne Foster, all of South Boston and Virginia Palmer of Onalaska, Texas. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Rebecca Hughes and Frances Ramsey.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Rescue Squad, PO Box 183, South Boston, 24592, or your favorite charity.

Estelle Newby Tillman

Estelle Newby Tillman, 87, of Bedford, died July 24 at Bedford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Tillman was born in Halifax County on October 2, 1914, the daughter of Charlie C. Newby and Florence Childrey Newby and was married to Cruduip Dallas Tillman. She was a member of McCanless United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Ray W. and Donna H. Tillman of Bedford; three grandchildren, Shannon Tillman Green and husband, Roy D. of Princeton, WV, W. Michael Tillman and wife, Tiffany of Winston-Salem, NC, and Shelley D. Tillman of Bedford; three great-grandchildren, Afton M. Tillman, Cody D. and Ashlee R. Green; and a friend, Louise Irvin of Lynchburg. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mildred Lavoris Tillman; one sister, Virginia Carlone; four brothers, Albert, Walter, Murlin 'Shorty' and Claude Newby.
Graveside services for Mrs. Tillman will be held July 28 at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens.