Coby Ward Shooting;; A quiet Friday night in Rockdale turned into a scene of panic and confusion after gunfire broke out inside a local bar, leaving one man critically injured and prompting a swift law enforcement response.
According to the Rockdale Police Department, officers received multiple 911 calls around 11:51 p.m. on April 17, 2026, reporting shots fired at Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill on South Wilcox Street. Callers indicated that at least one individual had been shot, though the suspect’s whereabouts were initially unknown.
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When officers arrived at the scene, they located a victim inside the establishment identified as 28-year-old Coby Ward of Sallisaw. He was treated by first responders before being airlifted by PHI Air Medical to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, where he remains in critical condition.
As the investigation unfolded, authorities reviewed witness accounts and video footage, which led to the identification of 23-year-old Raymond James McBride Jr. of Rockdale as the sole suspect in the shooting.
Police obtained an arrest warrant charging McBride with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony. He was taken into custody without incident at approximately 9:45 a.m. on April 18, 2026, and booked into the Milam County Jail, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
The investigation was carried out with assistance from the Milam County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Authorities say the case remains active as they continue gathering details surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, the Rockdale community is left shaken by the violence, as many hope for the recovery of the victim and clarity on the events that led to the shooting.