State v. Coffman

VOGEL, Judge.

On Monday July 25, 1994, defendant Michael P. Coffman (age sixteen) and Jeremy Allen (age fifteen) attended a driver’s education course at Ottumwa High School. During the preceding weekend the boys had argued over Michael’s treatment of a girl. Michael brought one of his father’s guns, loaded, to the class on Monday. The boys exchanged threats during the class, and afterward, outside the school, Michael shot Jeremy twice and killed him. After waiver of jurisdiction to district court, a jury found Michael guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Michael…