PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A Jefferson County jury sentenced a man to 99 years behind bars for the murder of a 41-year-old man who was shot multiple times during an argument outside a Port Arthur club.
Investigators said Herbert Charles Clark was arrested in the Dec. 2, 2018 shooting of Scharonn Cole, of Port Arthur. Port Arthur police officers found Cole on Fort Worth Avenue around 2:30 in the morning with gunshot wounds.
Editor's Note: The video above is from an Oct. 20. 2021 newscast.
Witnesses said the two got into an argument in a parking lot outside of Club Sisters, which is in the 400 block of Procter Street, according to a police department news release. That's when Clark allegedly shot Cole.
Cole was taken to The Southeast Texas Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, according to the department.
MORE | Obituary for Scharonn Cole
Jurors heard from a Port Arthur Police investigator about how difficult it was getting witnesses to come forward.
The victim’s daughter cried on the stand as she testified Tuesday during the trial.
The jury sentenced Clark to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His prior convictions were considered for his punishment.
Adriene Young, Cole's mother, previously told 12News he was shot eight times. She said Cole attempted to leave the argument before he was shot.
"Of everything he's done in his life, that was the proudest moment of my life I had for my son, to hear that he walked away," Young said. "He didn't have to, but he chose that."
Police previously told 12News Clark was identified as a suspect just hours after the shooting. He was arrested in Dallas on unrelated charges. While in custody, detectives received information that Clark fled to Dallas after the shooting. Immediately, detectives went to Dallas to interview Clark.
Clark was extradited from Dallas to the Jefferson County Jail for Cole's murder, police said.
Clark was 31 at the time of the alleged murder.
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