Murder suspect in Paradise Club shooting in custody

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A Texarkana, Texas, man accused of shooting a 25-year-old Texarkana, Ark., man was taken into custody Wednesday.

LaJason Jaquize Coakley, 23, reportedly turned himself in and is now being held in Miller County custody in connection with a shooting Aug. 20 at the Paradise Club in Texarkana, Ark. Coakley is accused of shooting Montel Waller.

According to TAPD, Coakley has been charged with First Degree Murder. The original charge of 1st Degree Battery was enhanced to 1st Degree Murder when the victim, Montel Waller, 25, died from injuries related to the incident on September 12th, 2016.

The shooting took place on August 20th, 2016, at approximately 1:00am. Texarkana Arkansas Police were called to a disturbance at the Paradise Club, located on 2502 E 9th.

According to TAPD, when police officers arrived they located victim Montel Waller, 25 years of age, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound. Waller was transported by Lifenet Ambulance to Wadley hospital for medical attention.

Waller died of the gunshot wound Sept. 12 after weeks on life support, according to officials. Waller allegedly tried to intervene in a confrontation between his brother and Coakley when he was shot.

Coakley was on parole from the Arkansas Department of Correction at the time of Waller’s shooting. Coakley pleaded guilty in June 2013 to two counts of terroristic act involving the use of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Coakley was forbidden to possess guns or ammunition when he allegedly shot Waller at the Paradise Club.

If found guilty of murder in Waller’s death, Coakley faces ten to 40 years or life in prison.

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