Wilson Police Seek Clues In Murder of Retired General

The death has been ruled a homicide. But no motive has been established.

Someone shot and killed General Ives in his home sometime Thursday evening. His daughter found him Saturday afternoon in the room where he enjoyed sending e-mails to friends and surfing the Internet.

"This is just such a shock," the daughter, CatherineMcAllister, said Monday. "I can't think of any reason anyone wouldwant to hurt him."

Investigators said they found no evidence of forced entry at Ives' home. They released few details.

Officials said Ives had been dead for some time when McAllister found. But they haven't pinpointed a time of death.

His daughter wasn't the only one who finds it hard to believe that someone would want to kill Ives.

General Ives was active at the Stoneybrook Church of Christ, always helping others. He set up a scholarship fund that sent eight students to college this year.

Friends said Ives had a gentle spirit for a seasoned soldier. At 75 and 6-4, he could still wear his old uniform when he spoke to kids in Wilson schools about patriotism.

Ives, a Wilson native, joined the military in 1945. He servedwith an engineer survey battalion in Japan.

He served much of his career with the Army National Guard and was promoted to one-star general in 1979.

A man who received many medals during his career, Ives became deputyadjutant general of the Army National Guard in 1984.

Ives visited area rest homes and recently started mentoring inthe Wilson schools, said a friend, Dan Shackleford.

"He wanted everybody to achieve," Shackleford said. "That washis key word.

"Hardly a good conversation would go by with him thathe didn't mention the word achieve."

Detectives are asking anyone with information that may help in the investigation to call Wilson Police.