Vista CA— On December 7, 2017, at about 6:07 p.m., deputies received a radio call of a welfare check at 2324 Lone Oak Lane, Unincorporated Vista. A reporting party told Sheriff’s Dispatchers that her son had shot his brother and his brother’s girlfriend. Deputies arrived at the address and encountered a locked gate with large objects behind it, making it difficult to enter the property. Once deputies managed to get around the gate they began searching the property for the residents.
Deputies found an open door into the residence and a short time later they found two deceased people inside. Deputies continued checking the residence and determined they needed additional resources to search the large residence and property. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED) responded and assisted on searching the property for a suspect. After an extensive search the suspect was found in a travel trailer and subsequently taken into custody. The suspect has been identified as Bradley Alan Coates (7/17/1968).
Both of the victims appeared to be adults, one was a male and the other was female. They both sustained trauma to their upper torsos. At this point in the investigation we are not releasing the names of the victims until they are positively identified and the next of kin are notified. The cause and manner of death will be determined once the autopsy is completed by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.