Victim disputes Shaver's shooting claims

A man authorities say was shot and wounded by country singer Billy Joe Shaver told police the attack was unprovoked, and witnesses support his account.

One witness said Shaver followed the victim, Billy B. Coker, 50, out of Papa Joe's Texas Saloon in Lorena on Saturday night and asked, "Where do you want it?" before shooting him in the face, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

After hearing gunfire, another witness said she heard Shaver say to Coker, "Tell me you are sorry," and "Nobody tells me to shut up," according to an affidavit signed by acting Police Chief John Moran.

Coker told police that he and Shaver had been talking inside for an hour or more and discovered that Shaver's wife was the widow of Coker's cousin. Coker said Shaver later asked him to go outside and then said, "Where do you want it?" before shooting him, according to the affidavit.

Shaver's attorney Joseph A. Turner has said that Coker was drunk, aggressive and had a knife, and that he followed Shaver outside. Turner said that while witness accounts in any case will differ, especially when people have been drinking, he is surprised that the documents do not mention the knife.

"Clearly the witnesses did not see the whole thing if they didn't see the knife," Turner said Wednesday.

Shaver surrendered Tuesday and posted a $50,000 bond. Shaver, 67, of Waco is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawfully carrying a handgun on the premises of a business with a license to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption.

Just hours after turning himself in and posting bond, Shaver entertained about 200 fans with songs from his just-released "Greatest Hits" album.

At the close of Tuesday night's half-hour set at Waterloo Records, Shaver told the crowd: "Don't forget to pray for me, and tell your kids to pray for me, too."