August 10, 1998

Shatiek Johnson is charged with second degree murder in shooting death of Police Officer Gerard Carter in Staten Island housing project on July 26; Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani and Gov George E Pataki say that 17-year-old ex-convict symbolizes failings of state's prison early release program; dysfunctional picture of Johnson that emerges from interviews with police investigators, prosecutors, neighbors and friends is of teen-ager described as once being 'nice kid,' but who by age of 15, had been convicted of manslaughter for beating death of homeless man; Johnson, in addition to Carter's fatal shooting, will be indicted in killing of rival gang leader; police and local residents, in eerie example of interconnectedness of people in neighborhood, say that Johnson and Carter were once briefly related by marriage; photo (M)

Financial state of Golden Books Family Entertainment Inc, largest United States publisher of children's books, has worsened since it was acquired by investor group led by Richard E Snyder in 1996; Snyder is getting rich compensation package despite company's financial woes and has brought in highly paid executives with scant experience in company's mass-market business; critics say he seems intent on re-creating prestige he enjoyed before ouster as head of Simon & Shuster; table; graph; photos (M)

S.E.C. Takes Close Look At Accounting of Web Deals The Securities and Exchange Commission may be voicing subtle warnings about the unusually high prices of Internet industry stocks by reviewing how acquisitions are accounted for on the buyers' financial statements. The most prominent example is America Online, which was not able to release its quarterly and full-year earnings last week because it is still wrestling with the S.E.C. over the accounting for two recent acquisitions. The issue is how much of the price the on-line service paid for the acquisitions can be written off now versus how much must be deducted over many quarters. Market Place. [Page D2.]

Vincent Canby comment on Steven Spielberg's revival of patriotic war movie with film Saving Private Ryan; photos (M)

Global investigation into explosion of terrorist bombs near US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania takes shape; American intelligence officers and law-enforcement personnel from around world stream into Nairobi, Kenya, to search for clues in bombing that killed at least 190 people and wounded nearly 5,000; mother and son are found alive in nearby building damaged in blast, as rescuers continue search for wounded and dead; officials say some evidence may come from video cameras mounted on roofs of both embassies; say investigation is likely to reach across Africa and Arabian peninsula into Afghanistan, looking into terrorist networks with bases in at least four countries, and will examine need for stepped-up security at vulnerable American diplomatic posts; fear forensic evidence from blast may have been destroyed in search of rubble for wounded and dead; Embassy's regional security officer, Paul Peterson, says chance of terrorist assault on Nairobi outpost had been rated as slim by officials at State Department and Central Intelligence Agency; photos (M)