ST. CHARLES, Ill. — 16-year-old twin sisters Brittany and Tiffany Coffland were found shot to death in a St. Charles condo Friday night, along with their father, Randall Coffland, police confirmed Saturday.
The girls’ mother, Anjum Coffland, was also shot and injured in what police are describing as a domestic disturbance.
A memorial set up outside the condo is growing by the minute. Flowers, candles, and hand-drawn signs remember Brittany and Tiffany Coffland, who were juniors at St. Charles East High School.
“It’s kind of unnerving to realize that someone you were so close with, and could see in a day, and could be gone in a matter of hours,” said Ally Siebrasse, who said she was friends with the sisters.
“Tiffany would just absolutely light up a room with her smile. Her personality. She was an amazing young girl. You could tell made everyone better just by knowing her,” Siebrasse said.
Brittany, who was on the cheer squad, seemed more “kindhearted,” Siebrasse said.
Police say just before 5:15 p.m. Friday a neighbor called about shots fired, and a second call to 911 came from inside the residence. The twins and their father were found dead, while their mother was rushed to Delnor Hospital in Geneva with non-life threatening injuries.
Police say they were the only ones inside the condo, and didn’t say if there have been any prior incidents at the residence.
One neighbor said she heard commotion about 15 minutes before police arrived.
“When I walked across the street I had heard screams. I looked up and I noticed in that apartment they had the door open and I was thinking that’s weird because it was so cold outside,” Tammy Hartje said.
Police worked through the night processing the scene of what they are classifying it as a domestic situation, saying there’s no threat to the public, and they’re not looking for a gunman.
In the meantime, St. Charles East opened on a Saturday for students who need to grieve or talk.
“It’s a big eye opener just to cherish life. How precious life is,” said classmate Lexi Raimondi.
