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Billy Joe Shaver Acquitted in 2007 Shooting Outside Texas Bar

Updated: April 9, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Billy Joe Shaver was found not guilty Friday (April 9) following a trial on an aggravated assault charge for shooting a man outside a bar near Waco, Texas. A jury in Waco deliberated for less than two hours before acquitting the 70-year-old singer-songwriter of shooting Billy Bryant Coker in the face on March 31, 2007. For a second consecutive day, longtime friend Willie Nelson showed up Friday at the McLennan County Courthouse to show his support for Shaver. Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall was also there Thursday. Shaver had an acting role in Duvall's 1997 film, The Apostle. Appearing on the witness stand Friday, Shaver said the shooting stemmed from an argument he had with Coker in the bar. Shaver says he felt intimidated when Coker began stirring everyone's drinks at the bar with a pocketknife. The trial began with jury selection on Tuesday (April 6).

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