St. Charles Mourns Following Friday’s Tragic Shooting
(CREDIT: Google maps)
Residents of the city of St. Charles and people throughout Kane County are grieving today following a tragic Friday evening incident in which a man reportedly shot and killed his twin 16-year-old daughters, wounded his wife in the leg and turned the gun on himself.
According to police reports and 9-1-1 audio files released by police, Randall Coffland, 46, told a dispatcher he shot his daughters, Brittany and Tiffany, and his wife, Anjum Coffland, and was about to shoot himself.
(CREDIT: Google maps)
When police arrived shortly after 5:12 p.m. Friday, March 1, at 450 S. 1st St. in St. Charles, Randall, Tiffany and Brittany Coffland were dead. Emergency personnel took Anjum Coffland by ambulance to an area hospital.
An autopsy performed today (Monday, March 13, 2017) by the Kane County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Brittany and Tiffany Coffland both died from a “single gunshot wound to the head.”
The preliminary cause of death of Randall Coffland was determined to be a “single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” according to a Coroner’s Office news release.
Toxicology samples were collected and sent to a forensic lab, Coroner Rob Russell said.
St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina issued this statement on Saturday:
“The city of St. Charles experienced a horrific personal tragedy last night,” he said. “Being the close-knit community we are, an incident of this nature has impact beyond the immediate family — we think about and pray for the extended family which includes relatives, high school students and other friends.
“We also pray for the greater community, all of us, that we will stand tall and provide calm and peace at such a tragic moment.”
St. Charles police put out the word almost immediately Friday that the public was not in any danger, letting area residents know that the preliminary investigation led police to believe the shooting spree was an isolated domestic event.
In addition to the Kane County Coroner’s Office, St. Charles police and fire officials received assistance from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office and the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force.
“It is important to recognize the efforts of our public safety staff, headed by (St. Charles Police) Chief Jim Keegan and the Police Department but also including our Fire and Emergency Management team lead by Chief Joe Schelstreet,” Rogina said. “Their meticulous work told the community that in the shadow of unspeakable actions, the greater community was safe. For that I am grateful.”
SOURCE: city of St. Charles news release and Facebook page
