Coleman's wife Lauri Coryell reported to 911 that Coleman, staying at a motel, had left a suicidal voicemail. Officers John Nickelson, Marcus Tennigkeit, Jared Cooley and Breck Wright, Sgt. Vanessa Purdy and Lt. Al Byers communicated with him through his door and via phone for several hours. When Beyers decided the suicide was imminent, Wright battered the door open and they went in with guns and a taser. Police state that Coleman was allegedly "wielding a knife and a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon in a threatening manner, both of which he allegedly swung toward Tennigkeit, apparently connecting with the bottle." Tennigkeit, Nickelson and Cooley fired 18 shots, hitting Coleman 16 times and killing him. As of 10/14, Coryell and other victim families were fighting to have Tennigkeit, Nickelson, Cooley and other Oroville officers fired.
Victim's Name: Victor Coleman
Agency Responsible: Oroville Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Race: White
Date of Death: April 28, 2014
County: Butte
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Justified
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: knife
Geography: Rural