On April 25, 2015, 42-year-old Samantha Ann Coffey was fatally shot in her North Portland home. Her husband, 57-year-old John Coffey, was arrested at the scene and charged with her murder. The incident occurred on the 7900 block of North Kerby Avenue, across from Farragut City Park. Police responded to reports of a shooting and, upon arrival, found Samantha Coffey deceased from a gunshot wound to the upper neck.
John Coffey was taken into custody without incident.
A handgun believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at the scene. Neighbors reported that the couple had lived in the small four-bedroom apartment building for about 15 years. Samantha Coffey was employed as a food services lead assistant at Woodlawn School, part of Portland Public Schools.
Following his arrest, John Coffey was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of murder and unlawful use of a weapon. He was indicted by a grand jury and awaited trial. Court documents filed by his defense attorney suggested that the shooting was not intentional, citing extreme intoxication as a factor.
The tragic incident highlighted issues of domestic violence within the community. Portland Police emphasized that domestic violence is one of the most frequent and serious forms of violent crime they investigate. They urged individuals experiencing domestic violence to seek help through resources like the Portland Women's Crisis Line.
