Portland PD Gives Statement on Billy Jack Haynes, Wife Janette Confirmed Victim of Shooting

There has been an update on former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes following a fatal shooting that took place earlier this week. 

Haynes was arrested on Thursday after police were called to his home in the Lents neighborhood. Authorities were called after gunfire was heard. After a tense standoff with offices, Haynes “eventually came out” of the home and was detained. There is no ongoing threat to the community according to police. Upon inspection, the authorities found the body of Janette Becraft on the premises. 

In an update, the Portland Police in Oregan issued the following statement: 

“The suspect in the Thursday Lents Neighborhood homicide investigation is identified as William Albert Haynes, Jr, 70, of Portland. Haynes is Janette Becraft’s husband.

“He is in police custody at a local hospital while he is being treated for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement. Once he is released from the hospital, which may be days from now, he is expected to be booked into jail. Haynes’ charges will be released once he is booked.

Billy Jack Haynes in Wrestling

Trained by Stu Hart, Haynes broke into the wrestling business in 1982 and would join the World Wrestling Federation in 1986. Haynes would feud with Randy Savage over the Intercontinental Championship and later with Hercules Hernandez over who was stronger. Haynes and Hernandez fought in the ‘Battle of the Full Nelsons’ at WrestleMania 3, as both men used this move as a signature hold. The match went to a double count-out. 

Haynes left the WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. In one version of his exit, Haynes quit the WWF after refusing to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another telling of his exit said that he wrestled the match and the finish and was fired afterward.

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