In the early morning hours of February 2, 2014, a night out in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, turned tragic, ending the life of 45-year-old Garey Sid Cox. The male victim was at Shakers Bar on West Broad Street with his fiancée, Naya Wade, when a fight broke out. Cox was attempting to shield his fiancée from the escalating scuffle when he was fatally shot in the head. He was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, in Allentown, but succumbed to his injuries.
The incident, which unfolded shortly after 2 a.m. in the bar's parking lot, also resulted in another man being shot and hospitalized. Two state troopers who witnessed the shooting immediately pursued the gunman, taking him into custody. The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Terrence Clarke of Hazleton. Clarke was promptly arrested and faced a slew of charges, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
During the subsequent legal proceedings, it was revealed that Clarke was already serving a sentence for illegally possessing a firearm at the time of the deadly altercation. He ultimately admitted to opening fire on the crowd during the fight outside the bar. While Clarke did not offer a statement or an apology to the victim's family in court, the weight of the evidence led to his conviction. He was found guilty of third-degree murder and was sentenced to serve between 19 and 43 years in prison for his role in the death of Garey Cox, a father of five who was planning his wedding for that coming May.
