Man convicted of shooting at a local father in 2013 now accused in his death
Coakley, who was released early from 10-year sentence, turned himself in
“JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY KNOWS HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM WHEN THEY’RE ON THE INSIDE DOESN’T MEAN THEY SHOULD BE ON THE OUTSIDE.” —Rudy Newton, victim’s father
THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY RELEASING INMATES TO SAVE THE COST OF INCARCERATION IS BAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.” —Stephanie Black, prosecuting attorney
“YOU GET MORE TIME FOR DOG-FIGHTING THAN FOR ALMOST KILLING A MAN.” — Versia Miles, victim’s great aunt
A25-year-old Texarkana father was allegedly murdered by the same man who shot at him and missed in 2013.
LaJason Coakley, 23, was sentenced to a 10-year prison term in 2014 for shooting at Montel Waller and others with an assault rifle on June 19, 2013. Coakley was initially charged with nine counts of terroristic act and 10 counts of aggravated assault. Montel Waller, who died 24 days after being shot Aug. 20 at Paradise Club in Texarkana, Ark., had been subpoenaed to testify against Coakley in 2014.
But Coakley’s case didn’t go to trial. He entered a guilty plea to two counts of terroristic act in Miller County as part of a plea bargain that inclued a 10-year prison sentence. At the time of sentencing in 2014, Coakley received credit for 368 days he’d spent in the county jail as his case proceeded. He was paroled Aug. 27, 2015, said Chairman John Felts of the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
A model prisoner
Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black expressed frustration when she learned Coakley had been set free after serving such a short amount of time for a violent offense.
Black’s office and sentencing Circuit Judge Brent Haltom both objected when they were given notice that Coakley was being considered for release in late January 2015.
Felts said the objections from Black and Haltom didn’t matter because the law that prevailed at the time Coakley fired at least nine rounds from an AK-47 mandated release for offenders convicted of certain
offenses, including terroristic act, once their time served plus good-time credit made them parole-eligible.
Felts said Coakley was a model prisoner, completed an anger-management class and earned good time at the rate of 30 days for 30 days, shortly after being transferred to Arkansas Department of Correction.
A changed law
“We as citizens must let our legislators and governor know that we do not agree with the early release of violent criminals from prison,” Black said. “Had LaJason Coakley not been released early from the Arkansas Department of Correction where he was sentenced for terroristic acts for shooting at this same victim, this incident would not have happened. This is a prime example of why releasing inmates to save the cost of incarceration is bad for our community.”
Felts said the law has since changed, and parole board members now have the discretion to deny parole to offenders convicted of terroristic act, particularly when a deadly weapon is used.
But the change in the law came too late for Montel Waller.
They called him ‘Red’
A large gathering of his family and friends said goodbye to him last week. His funeral was attended by a large crowd Saturday, many of them wearing red in honor of the man they had called “Red” since he was a child.
“It was his favorite color,” said Vera Waller, Montel Waller’s grandmother. “It didn’t have anything to do with a gang like some people have said on social media. He just loved the color red.”
As the grandmother spoke, Montel Waller’s 2-year-old son played in the dusty earth surrounding the tiny house at Ash and East 16th streets. Montel Waller’s mother, LaShay Waller, paced. Although LaShay Waller’s grief made it impossible for her to speak about her son that hot Thursday afternoon, she listened, nodded and handed over a photograph of Montel and his son.
“You can’t find a single person to say one bad thing about him. Never,” said Rudy Newton, Montel Waller’s father, as he fought back tears. “I miss the sound of his voice.”
As Newton held up the photograph of his son and grandson, 2-year-old Montel Waller Jr. smiled brightly and exclaimed, “Daddy!”
The boy’s mother, Shawndrika Cooks, spoke painfully of how the young boy is dealing with the loss of his father.
“When we wake up, he’s missing his Dadda,” Cooks said. “He’s been crying for his daddy at day care.”
Members of the Waller family including his aunt Michelle Waller, great-aunt Versia Miles and aunt Kym Wills, recalled their lost loved one, as well. All spoke of his love of animals, his willingness to stop and help a stranger change a flat tire, his commitment to family and his appreciation of every moment.
Vera Waller’s neighborhood looks impoverished. There are no manicured lawns or sprinkler systems. Paint peels. But the strength of kinship and the solidarity of true friendships are things money can’t buy. Down the street from Vera Waller’s home, several neighbors’ car windows are painted with well wishes to “Red.”
“He was a person that loved life,” Vera Waller said. “He checked on me every day.”
The family laughed as they remembered Montel Waller’s passion for the saddle.
“He was a dedicated cowboy,” Vera Waller said.
Miles laughed as the family recalled how Montel Waller was fired once from a job because he left work to participate in a horse show. Eventually, Montel Waller got a job caring for and shoeing horses, which gave him the freedom to take off and ride when he wanted.
“All he cared about was horses, work and that little guy right there,” Newton said, looking at his grandson.
On the outside
Newton said he gets “madder and madder” when he thinks about Coakley’s quick release from prison.
“Just because somebody knows how to work the system when they’re on the inside doesn’t mean they should be on the outside,” Newton said.
Miles said the law treated Coakley more favorably than defendants in high-profile animal abuse cases.
“You get more time for dog-fighting than for almost killing a man,” Miles said.
Newton’s frustration bubbled as he spoke of lawmakers.
“It wasn’t their kid,” he said. Vera Waller agreed.
“He (Coakley) came back and took a person’s life,” Vera Waller said. “We found out when he (Coakley) was getting out, but there was nothing we could do about it.”
Vera Waller’s strong voice softened when she spoke of her grandson’s choice to donate his organs.
“Somebody else is living because of him,” Vera Waller said.
The grandmother’s features became lively when she spoke of Montel Waller’s habit of bringing sickly animals home.
“At one point, he had two blind dogs,” Vera Waller said. “He said he had to take them because if he didn’t, somebody was going to kill them, and everybody deserves a chance to live.”
Rivalry
At the time of the 2013 shooting incident, Coakley was motivated by a Texas-Arkansas rivalry, court records state. Cooks and LaShay Waller were among the victims listed in the 2013 case as being endangered by Coakley’s spray of rifle fire. At the time of the Paradise Club shooting Aug. 20, Coakley was on parole and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a convicted felon. Moments before being struck by the bullet that would end his life, Montel Waller was attempting to break up an altercation between Coakley and his brother inside the nightclub, Newton said. Montel Waller spent weeks recovering in a local hospital before a blood clot traveled to his brain and caused irreparable damage.
“There’s a nurse at the hospital who said in all her years, she’s never seen so many people come visit one patient,” Vera Waller said.
Coakley turned himself in Wednesday to deputies with the U.S. Marshals Service in Texarkana and is being held in the Miller County jail on a charge of first-degree murder and a parole violation. Murder is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life.
Newton said the state rivalry reportedly fueling Coakley’s animosity meant nothing to his son.
“He has friends from Arkansas, friends from Texas, all over the country,” Newton said. “He died over some nonsense.”