Billy Joe Shaver--Old Outlaws Never Die

[Guitarzan]

Warrants Issued for Billy Joe Shaver

AUSTIN — Police have issued arrest warrants for country singer Billy Joe Shaver after he shot and wounded a man outside a Texas bar, the entertainer's attorney said.

After Shaver left a bar in Lorena on Saturday night, a drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife followed him into the parking lot, said attorney Joseph A. Turner of Austin. Shaver shot him in self-defense, he said.

Police in Lorena — about 80 miles north of Austin — issued arrest warrants late Monday on charges of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm in a prohibited place, Turner said.

Shaver attempted to surrender to Austin police Monday night but was not arrested because the police did not have a record of the warrants, said Turner, who accompanied Shaver.

Lorena authorities could not be reached for comment early Tuesday.

"We're working with the police to get this resolved," Turner told The Associated Press. "His priority is dealing with this issue."

The shooting occurred at 8:30 p.m. Saturday outside Papa Joe's Texas Saloon, according to Lorena police. The victim was shot in the cheek but was talking and alert afterward, police said. He was hospitalized.

Turner declined to elaborate or say whether anything occurred inside the bar between Shaver and the victim. He said Shaver did not know the man.

Shaver, who lives in Waco, about 15 miles from Lorena, rose to country music stardom in the 1970s. Shaver, who wrote "Georgia on a Fast Train" and "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)" has recorded more than 20 albums.

[Guitarzan]

I was disappointed to see that he did not have Leon Grizzard representing him.

[Disastercaster]

He shot him in the face in self defense?

[Victobass]

Originally Posted by Disastercaster

He shot him in the face in self defense?

Really, everybody knows it's double taps to the center of mass!

Billy Joe must have been drinking or else he's just a poor shot.

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by Guitarzan

Warrants Issued for Billy Joe Shaver

AUSTIN — Police have issued arrest warrants for country singer Billy Joe Shaver after he shot and wounded a man outside a Texas bar, the entertainer's attorney said.

After Shaver left a bar in Lorena on Saturday night, a drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife followed him into the parking lot, said attorney Joseph A. Turner of Austin. Shaver shot him in self-defense, he said.

Police in Lorena — about 80 miles north of Austin — issued arrest warrants late Monday on charges of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm in a prohibited place, Turner said.

You shouldn't arrest a man for shooting an aggresive drunk with a knife.

"possessing a firearm in a prohibited place"? It's Texas, not Massachusetts!

[Oskar]

possessing a firearm in a prohibited place"? It's Texas, not Massachusetts!

Being from Massachusetts I have to say I take issue with this, but will let it pass and say nothing further.

[Steve McGinnis]

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

You shouldn't arrest a man for shooting an aggresive drunk with a knife.

"possessing a firearm in a prohibited place"? It's Texas, not Massachusetts!

Even in Texas you can't take a concealed gun anywhere you want. Possessing a firearm in a bar is against the law (and schools, and churches, and nursing homes, and hospitals....)

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by Oskar

Being from Massachusetts I have to say I take issue with this, but will let it pass and say nothing further.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to offend anyone from Massachusetts.

Originally Posted by Steve McGinnis

Even in Texas you can't take a concealed gun anywhere you want. Possessing a firearm in a bar is against the law (and schools, and churches, and nursing homes, and hospitals....)

That's understandable. I guess possessing a knife isn't against the law in a bar though. I mean, unless you pull it out and use it.

Pete

[Steve McGinnis]

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

That's understandable. I guess possessing a knife isn't against the law in a bar though. I mean, unless you pull it out and use it.

Pete

Actually you can't have a knife either (or a club, or any deadly weapon) basically no concealed weapons. So the guy that got shot was most likely charged with the same offense as Billy Joe.

[Open G Tele]

What's that old joke about bringing a knife to a gunfight?

-------------------------------

Didn't Billy Joe once pull a gun on Waylon one time?

I think I read that somewhere.

[sudancat]

Originally Posted by Oskar

Being from Massachusetts I have to say I take issue with this, but will let it pass and say nothing further.

[MandyMarie]

Poor Billy Joe...he was framed. Framed I tell ya! Hahaha, when I first heard about this my first thought was "what kinda cake will be the best at hidin' a file?"

Seriously though haha, he's a sweetie - I just recently watched him handle a drunk in a way I WISH I could when someone gets mouthy with our band. Our bass player would have been jumpin' over people to elbow a face (we can't control that boy!) if that would have been our band...Billy Joe was sweet and polite and calm. I truely do believe this was self-defense. He's a pretty religious guy and he's changed quite a bit over the years.

...and I've been excited as all get out about sellin' his merch in May. This better be all straight by then or I'm gonna be broken hearted and bakin' that damn cake!

[Reno Sepulveda]

I hope Billy was genuinely in fear for his life and not just ticked off and drunk. But talk about not going off half cocked, no warning shot or "halt or I'll shoot or nothing. Just pull the gun and put a bullet into the guy's face. Sounds like Billy was packing a poodle shooter though for the guy to still be up and around.

Update
By Michael Corcoran
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

About 200 supportive fans and half a dozen curious TV news teams packed Waterloo Records in Austin on Tuesday for an appearance by Billy Joe Shaver, who less than four hours earlier had posted bail, set at $50,000, on charges of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm in a prohibited place.

Warrants were issued for Shaver on Monday night, after an incident Saturday evening outside Papa Joe's Texas Saloon in Lorena, south of Waco. Shaver is accused of shooting Billy Coker, 50, in the cheek with a pistol.

Shaver's lawyer, Joe Turner, said Monday that Shaver acted in self-defense, but information released with the arrest warrant Tuesday tells a different story.

Coker claimed that the attack was unprovoked. A witness said Shaver asked Coker, "Where do you want it?" before firing.

Turner said Shaver was followed out of the club by an intoxicated man with a knife, but witness Michael Strickland said Coker left the club first, followed closely by Shaver, who pulled out the pistol.

Another witness, Lou Ewing, said she heard Shaver, who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun, say, "Nobody tells me to shut up" after shooting Coker.

Coker was released Tuesday from Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco.

Acting Lorena police Chief John Moran said in the affidavit that Coker told him that he and Shaver were having a casual conversation for about an hour when they realized that Shaver's wife, Wanda, was Coker's cousin's widow.

It was at that point, Coker said, that Shaver asked Coker to walk out to the back porch.

Ewing said Billy Joe and Wanda Shaver "left quickly" after the shooting.

If Shaver, a 67-year-old Waco native, was stressed about the incident and its repercussions, he didn't show it at the Waterloo appearance.

He grinned and clowned, flapping his arms during "When the Fallen Angels Fly" and shadowboxing near the end of "Honky Tonk Heroes."

He ended the set by saying, "Don't forget to pray for me, and tell your kids to pray for me, too."

The half-hour set featured songs from Shaver's "Greatest Hits" album, released Tuesday.

[Pete Galati]

I'm not buying Coker's story. Earlier accounts say he was "a drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife", and he's acting all innocent, like he did nothing wrong.

Doesn't add up IMO.

Pete

[Reno Sepulveda]

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

I'm not buying Coker's story. Earlier accounts say he was "a drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife", and he's acting all innocent, like he did nothing wrong.

Doesn't add up IMO.

Pete

The earlier reports were statements issued by Billy Joe's lawyer. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. As I said before I hope Billy Joe was acting out of a genuine fear for his life to have drawn a pistol and fired it at another person.

[MandyMarie]

Awwwww, Billy Joe, tell us it isn't true!

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

Awwwww, Billy Joe, tell us it isn't true!

If you can get Billy Joe to hang out here, it'll keep him out of trouble!

And.... increase his record sales by 5 or 6 CDs a year.

Pete

[ye olde fretmonkey]

I went in that Papa joe's place on a recon mission to scout it out as a place for my old 3 pc band to play. I won't play certain places, and that was one of em.

[MandyMarie]

Me too, I'm with ya! I went in there in January - just because it was the only thing around and I had about forty minutes to kill. I think I spent maybe ten of 'em in there and bailed!

I feel bad for the fella who got shot (Billy Joe's a cheek shooter!) but I can't help singin' "Stand By Your Man" hahaha...and I guess they've all been there, though, right?