Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

Police tell Eyewitness News that Aaron Searls and his brother were arguing in The Lounge before Searls allegedly shot and killed John Keaton early Monday morning.

A witness says Keaton tried to get the brothers to quit being so loud in the bar. Police say Searls left the bar first. Eyewitness News has learned only one witness actually saw the shooting and the witness says Searls did not pull the trigger in self defense.

Police have surveillance video, but it doesn't show any interaction between Searls and Keaton or even the shooting.

Searls preliminary hearing is set for January 19th.

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One man is dead and another is behind bars after a fight escalated into gunfire in Huntington bar early Monday morning.

26 year old Aaron Searls Jr. is charged with first degree murder after police say he shot and killed 46 year old Larry John Keaton. Police say the two had been in an argument inside the The Lounge bar on 3rd Avenue.

When bar patron Steve Swann left the bar, he heard gun shots and tackled Aaron Searls Jr. "I jumped on him. Then the gun flew off. I looked over at John Keaton and he was lifeless at that point." Swann kept Searls on the ground until police arrived.

Eyewitness News spoke exclusively with Searls' wife, Teia Searls. "He's a good man, a wonderful father. He wouldn't have done that without fearing for his life."

Keaton's son Travis says his father wasn't violent. "He's not the type to fight."

Police are checking out the surveillance video from inside the bar, to see what kind of activity happened in there before the shooting happened outside in the parking lot.

Searls is being held in the Western Regional Jail without bond. His prelimary hearing is scheduled for January 19th at 10:30 am.

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When Travis Keaton went to bed Sunday night, he never could have imagined the scene that would play out just a few hundred yards from his apartment... and ultimately change his life forever.

Now, he's grieving the loss of his father, who was shot several times during a fight in the parking lot right beside The Lounge.

Keaton says, "He had such a big heart. He was good person."

Friends stopped by the scene Monday afternoon, trying to piece together what happened.

Jamie Jeffers tells us, "He didn't start fights."
Travis Keaton added, "No, no no no. Not at all. I don't even know what the situation was that played out here, but he was not the type to fight or anything like that."

Friends and family say Keaton worked hard, and liked to relax at the Lounge. Jeffers says, "He was good to everybody. He just like to come out and have fun."

Jeffers was usually right by his side, but wasn't there Monday morning. It was just after 3:00 when Keaton and 27-year-old Aaron Searls allegedly got into a fight outside The Lounge. That's when police say Searls shot Keaton several times in the torso.

Keaton died en route to the hospital.

Searls is charged with first degree murder and is being held without bond.

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One man is dead and another in jail after a shooting in Huntington.
It happened around 3 Monday morning in a parking lot near The Lounge on 3rd Avenue and 15th Street downtown.

We're told two men were fighting when one pulled a gun and shot the other. The victim, 45 year old Larry Keaton died on the way to the hospital. Officers arrested 27-year old Aaron Searls. He was arraigned Monday morning.

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One person has been taken to the hospital after getting shot in the 1500 block of 3rd Avenue in Huntington.

Dispatchers tell us that they don't know the extent of the person's injuries.

Huntington Police is on the scene.

We will bring you the latest information as soon as it becomes available.

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