Dave and Buster’s co-founder James ‘Buster’ Coley is discovered dead on his 72nd birthday with ‘self-inflicted gunshot wounds’ at his Dallas home – four months after suffering ‘severe damage’ from stroke
- James ‘Buster’ Coley, 72, of Dallas, was found dead on his birthday on Monday
- Dallas Police Department found the businessman with ‘apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.’ He was transported to the hospital, where he later died
- His daughter Kate, 34, said that her father suffered a ‘stroke four months ago’
- The stroke ’caused severe damage to the communication and personality part of his brain’
- Coley founded Dave and Buster’s with David Corriveau – who died in 2015 at 63
A Dave and Buster’s co-founder was found dead inside his home on his 72nd birthday from ‘apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.’
James ‘Buster’ Coley, of Dallas, was found inside his home near White Rock Lake on Monday.
The Dallas Police Department found him with ‘apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds’ and he was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
His daughter Kate, 34, told WFAA that her father suffered a ‘stroke four months ago that caused severe damage to the communication and personality part of his brain.’
Pete Thornfield, a spokesperson for Dave and Buster’s, told DailyMail.com in a statement on Tuesday that the co-founder was an ‘innovative and creative force.’
James ‘Buster’ Coley, 72, of Dallas, (right) was found inside his home near White Rock Lake on Monday with ‘apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds’
Coley co-founded Dave and Buster’s with David Corriveau (pictured together) – who died in 2015 at 63 – in 1982
‘Buster’s passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence, and the deep care he had for his team members were unparalleled,’ Thornfield said. ‘Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time and while we will miss his wise counsel and his easy laugh, the legacy he and Dave built endures.’
Prior to his major success with Dave and Buster’s, Coley opened a restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the late 1970s, while his would-be co-founder David Corriveau – who died in 2015 at 63 – opened an entertainment place a few doors down.
After the pair noticed many customers’ filters between their two establishments, they decided to join forces and create an arcade-restaurant called Dave and Buster’s in 1982. The order of the name was decided based on a coin toss Corriveau won.
They found a 40,000-square-foot warehouse a few miles from Restaurant Row and opened their first store.
Since then, the company has opened more than 150 locations and it recently acquired Main Event for $835million.
Coley’s daughter Kate, 34, (left) said that her father suffered a ‘stroke four months ago’ The stroke ’caused severe damage to the communication and personality part of his brain’ (pictured: Kate, James, and his wife Leacy)
Pete Thornfield, a spokesperson for Dave and Buster’s, told DailyMail.com in a statement on Tuesday that the co-founder (pictured with his wife) was an ‘innovative and creative force’
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