Man gets 35 years for shooting death

Jimmy Dancer pleaded guilty to killing bystander at car-wash fight

Jimmy Jerome Dancer
Jimmy Jerome Dancer

A Texarkana man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday for murder in the fatal shooting of a bystander watching a fight at a local car wash last year.

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Liberty coach Jim Toman watches from the dugout during a Feb. 18, 2014 game against Old Dominion.

Jimmy Jerome Dancer, 30, pleaded guilty to murder Monday at a hearing before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell with the help of Texarkana lawyers Joe Tyler and Shorty Barrett. Tidwell delayed sentencing until Wednesday morning so the victim's family could be present.

"The victim's family is relieved about the disposition of this case because they wanted Dancer held accountable for this senseless shooting," First Assistant District Attorney Mike Shepherd said. "We don't believe Dancer showed up at the car wash that night planning on killing anyone. However, tempers flared between individuals watching a fistfight and Dancer used a firearm on the victim who was an innocent bystander."

As members of Tilford Barfield's family observed from seats in a first-floor courtroom of the Bi-State Justice Building in Texarkana, Tidwell formally imposed a 35-year prison term as part of a plea bargain.

Dancer shot 25-year-old Tilford Barfield to death March 24, 2017, at the Bay Wash in the 4200 block of State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Texas. Barfield was among a crowd of observers present when a fight broke out on the property, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.

At some point, Dancer pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Barfield in the legs and abdomen. Barfield died of his wounds. Dancer turned himself in the following day and has been in custody since.

First Assistant District Attorney Mike Shepherd and Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter handled the case for the state.

 

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