Bio & Incident Details
Age: 31
Tour: 4 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 11/11/1979
Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect: Shot and killed
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Patrolman Coker was shot and killed during a traffic stop on I-40 near Santa Rosa. The suspect immediately exited his car and approached Patrolman Coker's patrol car where he produced a .38 caliber handgun. He ordered Patrolman Coker to empty his service revolver on the passenger seat. He then had him walk down an embankment on the side of the road.
As Patrolman Coker took off his coat he retrieved his backup weapon from a holster sewn into the coat. Both he and the suspect fired at the same time. Patrolman Coker's shot struck the suspect in the chest, but the suspect's shot struck Patrolman Coker in face, killing him instantly. The suspect stumbled back to the patrol car where he collapsed and dropped his weapon. A passerby kicked the handgun away and detained the suspect, who later died.
Patrolman Coker had been with the agency for four years.
