PORTLAND, Ore. — A follow-up investigation in the wake of a March 7 murder/suicide has led to the arrest of the man who illegally sold the semi-automatic rifle used in the killing.
On March 7, 2018, David Cote murdered his ex, Bethany Schuch, outside a residence on Alderwood Drive in West Linn, shooting her multiple times with an SKS semi-automatic rifle. Cote then committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Schuch took out a restraining order against her killer in November 2017 — but it was never served because he changed his address to a location unknown to police.
“We’ve lost one of the most wonderful lives that I’ve ever known,” Schuch’s friend, Crystal Anoushiravani, told KOIN 6 News. “The past 6 months have been complete torment by him and her trying to hide from him and her changing her life and doing everything that was at her disposal to protect herself.”
“I know that Bethany was constantly calling on the restraining order,” Anoushiravani said. “She tried so hard that I feel there was a failing in the system at the court and social service system.”
“If we would’ve known that he had access to firearms, if we would’ve known the depths of his threats, we would of done more even, send her out of state,” Anoushiravani said.
During the murder investigation, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained access to Cote’s phone. This led to an investigation of Justin Joseph Coleman, 34, of Salem.
Until May 2018, Justin Coleman operated a side business out of his home as a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Authorities developed probable cause that Coleman illegally sold Cote the SKS rifle used in the March 2018 murder.
In a legal gun sale, Coleman would have filled out an ATF Form 4473 and initiated a background check on Cote before allowing him to purchase a registered firearm.
Instead, in February 2018 Coleman sold Cote an unregistered SKS rifle for an undisclosed amount of cash. This weapon was later used to murder Bethany Schuch.
On May 23, Sheriff’s Office detectives, ATF agents, and Salem PD officers served a warrant at Coleman’s Salem residence. Authorities recovered evidence of the illegal sale.
Coleman’s Federal Firearms License (FFL) was revoked that same day.
Authorities also uncovered evidence that Coleman was illegally dealing anabolic steroids.
After further investigation, this morning (Wednesday, Dec. 12), the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office — working with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Marion County DA’s Office — arrested Justin Coleman at his Salem residence. He was booked into Marion County Jail on charges including Possession of a Controlled Substance, Distribution of a Controlled Substance and Firearms Transfer by Unlicensed Person. Bail was set at $20,000.
