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Trial began Tuesday for man accused of stabbing Calallen teen inside Walmart

Posted at 8:53 AM, Sep 13, 2022
and last updated 2022-09-14 07:21:54-04

UPDATE:

During the trial on Tuesday, the court was shown the interrogation video with Billy Ferguson and police following the incident at the Calallen Walmart.

In the video, Ferguson told police he wanted to take his anger out on someone, snapped and picked a random kid. He said he did not know Gabe Cooley.

He added he didn't run from the scene because he didn't feel bad for for stabbing Cooley, and said he knew what he did. He compared the stabbing to being in a video game.

Ferguson told police he had a bad childhood and was abused.

In the video, Police asked him if he knew who (at the time) Calallen High School football coach Phil Danaher was.

He said he did, and that Danaher is a legend.

A total of six items were also entered into evidence, including the knife used in the incident.

Original story:

Testimony begins Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of fatally stabbing a Calallen teen more than two years ago.

Jury selection wrapped up on Monday in the Billy Ferguson murder trial.

17-year-old Gabe Cooley was stabbed while inside a Calallen Walmart in August 2020.

Billy Ferguson, the man charged with Cooley's murder, told police hours later he was "mad at the world" the day of the stabbing.

Ferguson told police he grabbed a knife from the kitchen section of Walmart and randomly chose Cooley as his victim.

Phone recordings were played at a hearing in the 28th District Court this past July, and Judge Nanette Hasette proclaimed Ferguson as competent to stand trial.