SAPD: Fight over pool game led to fatal bar shooting

Billy Nelson, 79, arrested in fatal shooting of Raymond Carter, 55, at Crazy 8 Saloon on N. WW White Road

SAN ANTONIO – A fight over a pool game led to a fatal shooting inside an East Side bar late Wednesday night, San Antonio police said.

Officers responded to the shooting at around 9:30 p.m. at the Crazy 8 Saloon in the 500 block of North WW White Road.

Police said the victim, identified as 55-year-old Raymond Carter, managed to make it outside the bar, but collapsed in front of a business next door.

Officers found Carter lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Paramedics attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses inside the bar initially told police they did not see what happened, but officers detained the patrons to gather information.

Police said witnesses told them about the pool game and they obtained a murder warrant for a suspect identified as 79-year-old Billy Nelson.

Witnesses told police Nelson left after the fight, but returned with a gun and shot Carter.

"The victim attempted to defend himself by using a barstool, and at the point of trying to strike Mr. Nelson with the barstool, Mr. Nelson fired one shot," said San Antonio Police Officer Doug Greene. "When you have alcohol, you have high emotions going on (and) these things happen. So even over the smallest little altercation can blow up and turn into someone losing their life."

SAPD officers went to Nelson's home and took him into custody early Thursday morning.

Mugshot for Billy Nelson courtesy of the San Antonio Police Department Facebook page.


About the Authors:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.

Myra Arthur is passionate about San Antonio and sharing its stories. She graduated high school in the Alamo City and always wanted to anchor and report in her hometown. Myra anchors KSAT News at 6:00 p.m. and hosts and reports for the streaming show, KSAT Explains. She joined KSAT in 2012 after anchoring and reporting in Waco and Corpus Christi.