A36274600

Walker and his cousin, James “Peanut” Walker, were at odds with a man named Eric Byndon, who dated Peanut’s sister, and Byndon’s group of friends. Byndon believed that Walkers’s friends were responsible for the murder of one of his friends. This led to a feud between the two groups. For whatever reason, the Walkers decided to borrow a car and go out hunting for Byndon’s group. They found him outside a bar Byndon frequented.

As the Walkers approached the bar, they turned off the car lights. Byndon saw the car, saw Peanut driving, and saw Walker on the passenger side. Walker produced a chrome plated revolver and began shooting at the group. Byndon ducked behind the van, but at least one of Byndon’s group returned fire. Each side fired five or six shots at each other.

The car was hit several times. One of the bullets put a hole in the gas tank. As a result, the car ran out of gas as the Walkers fled the shooting. That happened on West Fork Road. Although there was a B.P. gas station close by, the Walkers did not go there. Instead, they entered a small neighborhood bar called “Coach’s Bar.”

Jim Hebert and his father, affectionately known as “Coach,” owned and operated Coach’s bar together. James Sr. had coached high school football for years at schools including Aiken, Dater, and West High. Many players and teachers from the nearby schools frequented the bar and would stop by to visit him, hence the name Coach’s Bar. A bartender there, Jennifer Murray, characterized it as a place where “everyone knew everybody.”

Both Hebert men were working at the bar that night and were seated at the bar when the Walkers entered. The bar patrons were watching Monday Night Football on television. Peanut used the telephone to call his mother and asked her to come get him.

As Peanut was making his call, Walker was approaching people in the bar in a belligerent manner. One of the bar’s employees, Jennifer Murray, asked him if he would like a drink, to which he responded, “I’ll drink you, bitch.” She replied, “Excuse me?” and Walker repeated the same words. Jim Hebert stood up and addressed Walker, telling him he was going to have to leave. Walker ignored the request to leave, and when Peanut tried to smooth things over, Jim told him, “No, it’s not okay. We can’t have that here. You guys have got to go.”

When Jim tried to push them out the door, Walker drew his revolver. Jim struggled with Walker, trying to keep the gun away. Peanut jumped in and started fighting him, which is when Walker clubbed Jim over the head with the gun, knocking him to the floor. Coach tried to come to his son’s aid, but Walker raised his gun, pointed it at him, and shot him in the abdomen. The Walkers then left in the car Peanut had called for. Policed arrived a short time later and Coach was rushed to the hospital, but he died soon after.

Walker started with a drive-by shooting. He then fought and pistol-whipped Jim because, after Walker was belligerent and rude, he told Walker he and Peanut had to leave the bar. And Walker then murdered Coach for having the audacity to come to his son’s aid.



It is notable that Walker was almost 40-years old when he committed these crimes. He was old enough to fully appreciate the consequences of his actions.

James “Coach” Hebert’s murder was entirely senseless. Walker deserves the life sentence he received. The Hamilton County Prosecutors Office strongly opposes early release for Anthony Walker.

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