UPDATE 1/19/12 @ 2:15 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Security was very tight in a Cabell County courtroom Thursday during a preliminary hearing a man charged with first degree murder.

Aaron Searls, 27, of Huntington, is being charged with the shooting death of John Keaton.

Family and friends of Keaton filled the courtroom wearing pins displaying his picture which raised some security concerns and prompted three deputies to remain present during the hearing.

During the hearing the Keaton's girlfriend, Maria Cover, testified that Searls was at The Lounge bar the night of the shooting. Cover testified that as she and Keaton left the bar that night, Searls was outside waiting for them and pulled a gun on them after a verbal confrontation.

"Aaron pulled a gun out, at that point John hit him and I heard a gun shot go off then I heard another one then I heard a third one and I saw them hit the ground," said Cover.

Public Defender Paul Jordan claimed there was no evidence that this is a first degree murder.

"I'm not going to stand here and say that a homicide did not occur but I'm not going to say a first degree murder occurred," said Jordan. "These people didn't know each other and I don't think this rises to the level of aggravated factors of first degree murder."

Judge Darrel Black found there is probable cause and sent the case to the grand jury.

Searls didn't have any comment to WSAZ.com as he left the courtroom.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

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UPDATE 1/9/12 @ 11:40 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The investigating detective on a murder case that happened Monday morning in Huntington spoke exclusively with WSAZ.com.

Huntington Police Officer Ryan Bentley told WSAZ.com the murder suspect and murder victim didn't even know each other before the deadly shooting.

Bentley says the two men were arguing about something small inside the bar, went outside -- and that's when Aaron Searls allegedly shot John Keaton three times at point blank range.

Bentley says officers do not believe drugs were a motive for the fight.

Searls was black and blue in court Monday afternoon -- visibly beaten. Bentley told WSAZ.com that is because witnesses of the murder forced him to the ground and held him -- kicking a gun away from him -- until police arrived on scene.

Searls is currently in jail, without bond, until his preliminary hearing.

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UPDATE 1/9/12 @ 5:45 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A murder suspect got a taste of vigilante justice in Huntington.

It happened early Monday morning just after the shooting death of a man outside a bar. WSAZ.com got exclusive video of a very battered suspect who told us he had been brutally assaulted. But no charges so far in that regard.

The bar manger says inside there were some angry some words exchanged. But police say outside -- a point blank killing -- and a quick arrest.

Here’s some dialogue between 27-year-old Aaron Searls and the magistrate:

“This is what I'm being charged with?" asked Searls.

"Yes. First-degree murder,“ replied the magistrate.

Searls looked stunned as he was arraigned on first-degree murder charges. He told the magistrate that he did not work, but his wife did to support their children.

Police say when they responded to the 3:18 a.m. 911 call in the parking lot outside a Huntington 3rd Avenue bar, 45-year-old John Keaton, of Catlettsburg, Ky., was dying from three point-blank gun shots to the torso.

Keaton later died at the hospital.

Police say bar patrons held Searls down and beat him until they arrived. One neighbor told WSAZ.com that he tried to make sure there was not another shooting when he saw a gun lying on the ground amongst some angry people.

“(it was) by the victim's head," neighbor Jonathan McCarthy said. "I walked over and kicked it out of the way -- to make sure she didn't touch it anymore.”

Police say after his arrest Searls, 27, claimed self defense. We’re told police are looking into a possible criminal history with Searls -- possibly involving weapons.

As Searls left the courthouse, WSAZ.com’s Randy Yohe asked the murder suspect the obvious questions.

“Can you tell me what happened?" Yohe asked.

"No comment, sir, Randy," said Searls.

"You looked surprised that you were charged with murder," Yohe said.

"That's because I did not murder anyone," Searls said.

"So, what happened out there?” Yohe asked.

Yohe also asked Searls how he was beaten so badly. He finally said he was maliciously assaulted.

It’s still sketchy on just what prompted the altercation that led to the shooting. Police say they have video from the bar's surveillance cameras that may shed light on motive.

WSAZ.com talked to Keaton’s family. They are in shock and in mourning.

They say he worked on a traveling used car sales team and leaves behind four children and two grandchildren.

Searls is now jailed without bail. He is awaiting a preliminary hearing.

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UPDATE 1/9/2012 @ 10:50 a.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington man has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting outside a Huntington bar early Monday morning.

The shooting was reported about 3:15 a.m. in the parking lot of The Lounge. The bar is located in the 1500-block of 3rd Avenue.

Police say Larry John Keaton, Jr. 45, of Catlettsburg, Ky., died at a Huntington hospital following the shooting.

Detectives have charged Aaron Searls, 27, of Huntington, with one count of first degree murder. Searls was arraigned about 10:30 a.m. in Cabell County Magistrate Court. Bail was denied.

Searls was visibly shaken when the magistrate said he was charged with first degree murder.

Searls had a number of bruises and cuts on his face when he appeared in court. He told WSAZ.com that he had been maliciously assaulted.

Police say the shooting happened after the two men got into an altercation in the parking lot of the bar. No word on what caused that altercation.

Detective Rob Stinnett says both men were in the bar before the shooting happened. Stinnett says detectives are reviewing surveillance video from the bar. He says Keaton was shot three times.

Police say following the shooting, bar patrons detained Searls until officers arrived.

The investigation into the murder continues. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Ellen Keaton says her stepson worked as a traveling independent used cars salesman. He leaves behind four children and two grandchildren.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

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UPDATE 1/9/2012 @ 7:30 a.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington Police confirm one man is dead following a shooting in the 1500-block of 3rd Avenue in Huntington.

The shooting was reported about 3:20 a.m. Monday morning.

Chief Skip Holbrook tells WSAZ.com that detectives are currently questioning a person of interest.

Holbrook says the victim is in his mid to late 40’s and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Chief says the man was found shot in the parking lot of a local club and that some type of disturbance led up to the shooting.

Police have not released a motive, or the name of the victim.

A witness, Jonathan McCarthy tells WSAZ.com that he heard people scream after hearing two or three loud bangs so he called 911. He then left his nearby apartment and went into the parking lot where he saw two people lying on the ground. McCarthy says one of those people was the victim, and the other person was the shooter according to other witnesses he spoke to.

He then saw a gun near the victim’s head and kicked it away.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

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UPDATE 1/9/2012 @ 5:30 a.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington police confirm one man is dead following a shooting in the parking lot of the Lounge. That's in the 1500-block of 3rd Avenue in Huntington.

Police at the scene tell WSAZ.com they do have a person of interest.

They do not know what the motive is at this time.

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UPDATE 1/9/2012 @ 4 a.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington police are questioning people at the scene of a shooting near downtown Huntington.

Cabell County 911 dispatchers tell WSAZ.com one person has been transported to the hospital after being shot in the 1500-block of 3rd Avenue.

There is no word on that person's condition.

We have a crew at the scene gathering information.

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ORIGINAL STORY 1/9/2012 @ 3:30 a.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- At least one person has been hurt in a shooting along 3rd Avenue in Huntington.

Cabell County 911 dispatchers tell WSAZ.com there is at least one victim.

It happened about 3:20 a.m. Monday in the 1500-block of 3rd Avenue.

We have a crew on the scene.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.