Coy Yates faces attempted murder

A jealous boyfriend who allegedly shot a man outside the Shell station on New Smithville Highway early this month has been charged with attempted second-degree murder.

The suspect, Coy A. Yates, faces eight to 12 years in prison. His victim, Timothy L. Blakely, has recovered from his wound ? a single shot to the chest fired at close range.

According to Blakely, who spoke with police about an hour after being wounded in the pre-dawn hours April 1, the confrontation which led to the shooting was over a girl he ?used to sleep with,? prompting his belief that one of the two men who confronted him behind the Shell station was dating the girl.

Blakely said he was accosted by the men outside the convenience store around 3 a.m. and that one of the men pulled a gun and opened fire. Blakely was able to identify the man who accompanied the shooter after being shown a picture of the suspect.

Police have been investigating the case since the shooting and finally collaring the Harrison Ferry man for the crime last week. He remains held under $200,000 on the Class C felony. Charges have not been filed against the man who was with him during the shooting, although he is being considered a material witness by police.