Noted Nashville country performer Randy Howard was killed this week during a gunfight with a bounty hunter. The musician, who performed with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings during his lifetime, was 65 years old.
Bounty hunter Jackie Shell arrived at Howard's home on Tuesday night, assigned to bring in the performer when he didn't show up for a court date tied to charges for drunk-driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm and driving with a revoked license. A report filed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation indicates that Howard opened fire first, and was killed when Shell responded in kind. The bounty hunter was injured in the incident, undergoing surgery immediately afterward.
NME notes that Howard fell within the "outlaw" country scene, which probably goes without saying at this point. He released seven albums across his career, with his brightest flash of fame coming within the underground of his scene with the foul-mouthed "All American Redneck" in 1983.
