The peaceful Friday night atmosphere at Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill in Rockdale, Texas, turned into a scene of chaos and fear after gunfire erupted inside the popular local establishment, leaving one man fighting for his life and prompting a rapid police response. According to the Rockdale Police Department, officers received multiple 911 calls at approximately 11:51 p.m. on April 17, 2025, reporting shots fired at Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill, located at 220 South Wilcox Street.

Callers advised dispatchers that an individual had been shot, though the suspect’s location was unknown at the time. When officers arrived, they found a single gunshot victim inside the bar. The victim was identified as Coby Ward, 28, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Ward was treated at the scene before being transported by PHI Air Medical to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas, where he remains in critical condition.

As the investigation continued, police reviewed witness statements along with video evidence, which led to the identification of Raymond James McBride Jr., 23, of Rockdale, Texas, as the sole suspect involved in the shooting. An arrest warrant was obtained charging McBride with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second degree felony. McBride was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Milam County Jail, where he is awaiting deportation.

The Shooting Gunfire Erupts Inside Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill

The shooting occurred at approximately 11:51 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2025, at Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill, located at 220 South Wilcox Street in Rockdale, Texas. Rockdale is a small city in Milam County, located about 50 miles northeast of Austin. Boogie’s is a popular local bar, a place where people gather on Friday nights to unwind, socialize, and enjoy live music or drinks. At 11:51 p.m., the bar would have been busy, with patrons inside enjoying their evening.

According to the Rockdale Police Department, officers received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired. Multiple callers means that the sound of gunfire was loud enough and shocking enough that several people immediately reached for their phones. Callers advised dispatchers that an individual had been shot, though the suspect’s location was unknown at the time. The shooter may have fled, or may have been hiding among the crowd.

When officers arrived, they found a single gunshot victim inside the bar. The victim was identified as Coby Ward, 28, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. The original article does not specify where on his body Ward was shot. The fact that he was airlifted to a trauma center indicates that his injuries were severe. He was treated at the scene by first responders before being transported by PHI Air Medical, a helicopter ambulance service, to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. Air transport is used for critically injured patients who need to reach a trauma center faster than an ambulance can drive.

Ward remains in critical condition. Critical condition means that his injuries are life threatening. He is in intensive care, fighting for his life. Doctors and nurses are doing everything they can, but the outcome is uncertain. His family is likely gathered in a hospital waiting room, praying for survival, fearing the worst.

The Suspect Raymond James McBride Jr., 23

As the investigation continued, police reviewed witness statements along with video evidence, which led to the identification of Raymond James McBride Jr., 23, of Rockdale, Texas, as the sole suspect involved in the shooting. The use of video evidence suggests that the bar had surveillance cameras that captured the shooting or the moments leading up to it. Witness statements corroborated what the cameras showed, and McBride was identified as the shooter.

An arrest warrant was obtained charging McBride with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second degree felony. Under Texas law, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge indicates that McBride used a deadly weapon, presumably a firearm, to cause serious bodily injury to Coby Ward.

Police said McBride was taken into custody without incident at approximately 9:45 a.m. on April 18, 2025, and was later booked into the Milam County Jail, where he is awaiting deportation. The phrase “awaiting deportation” is significant. It indicates that McBride is not a United States citizen and that immigration authorities have placed a hold on him. He will be deported after he faces the criminal charges in Texas, or perhaps before, depending on the outcome of the case. A booking photo was not available at the time of the report.

The original article does not specify McBride’s country of origin or his immigration status. It does not specify whether he was in the country legally or illegally. What is known is that he is facing a felony charge and that he will be deported after the legal process is complete.

The Investigation Ongoing

The Rockdale Police Department stated that the investigation was conducted with assistance from the Milam County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The investigation will focus on what led to the shooting. Why did McBride shoot Coby Ward? Was there an argument? Was there a fight? Was the shooting intentional or accidental? These are the questions that detectives will seek to answer.

The investigation will also examine the weapon used. Where did McBride get the gun? Was it legally owned? Was it stolen? These details will be important for the prosecution.

The original article does not state whether McBride has a criminal history. That information may emerge as the case progresses.

The Victim Coby Ward, 28, of Sallisaw

Coby Ward is 28 years old. He is a resident of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, a small city in Sequoyah County, located in the eastern part of the state near the Arkansas border. He was visiting Rockdale, Texas, likely for work, for pleasure, or to visit friends. He went to Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill on a Friday night, expecting to have a good time. Instead, he was shot and is now fighting for his life.

The original article does not provide biographical details about Coby his occupation, his family structure, his hobbies. That information will emerge in the coming days as family members speak to the media and as fundraising pages or updates are shared. What is known is that he is 28, that he is from Sallisaw, and that he is in critical condition. His family is praying for his recovery.

The Community Rockdale and Sallisaw in Mourning

The Rockdale community is shocked by the violence at a popular local bar. Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill is a familiar place to many residents. The fact that a shooting occurred there, and that a man is fighting for his life, has shaken the community.

The Sallisaw community, hundreds of miles away in Oklahoma, is also in shock. One of their own is in a Texas hospital, fighting for his life. His family is by his side. His friends are praying for him. The community is holding its breath.

Holding Onto Hope

As the investigation continues and Coby Ward fights for his life, his family and friends are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto hope while also confronting the possibility of the worst. They must pray for his recovery while also preparing for the possibility that he may not survive. They must be strong for each other.

Coby is 28. He has his whole life ahead of him. He has dreams that may still be fulfilled, love that may still be given, moments that may still be experienced. That is the hope. That is what his family is clinging to.

If Coby survives, he will have a long road to recovery. He will face surgeries, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. He will carry the memory of this shooting with him forever. But he will be alive. He will be able to go home to Sallisaw, to see his family, to live his life.

If Coby does not survive, his death will be a tragedy. A young man will be gone. A family will be shattered. A community will mourn. And Raymond James McBride Jr. will face even more serious charges, likely murder.

Conclusion A Man Fighting for His Life

The shooting of Coby Ward, 28, at Boogie’s Texas Bar & Grill in Rockdale, Texas, has left a man fighting for his life and a community in shock. Raymond James McBride Jr., 23, has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and is awaiting deportation. Coby Ward remains in critical condition at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple.

As the Rockdale Police Department continues its investigation, the community holds its breath. The family of Coby Ward prays for his recovery. And the legal process moves forward against the man accused of shooting him.

Fight on, Coby Ward. You are not alone. Your family is with you. Your community is with you. And there are people all over the country praying for your recovery. May you survive, may you heal, and may you one day return home to Sallisaw.