TPD Investigates Double Homicide, Suicide On East Side

Rusty Coblyn

The Tucson Police Department is actively investigating an apparent double murder/suicide that took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The deceased individuals were identified as 49-year-old Rusty Coblyn, 59-year-old Willa Coblyn and 26-year-old Matthew Johnson. Next of kin have been notified.

Just before 5:00 p.m., the Tucson Police Department received a 911 hang-up call from a cell phone. Officers were dispatched to an area where the call was believed to have been placed. As officers were responding, a second 911 call was received from a resident in the 6000 block of East 20th Street. The caller advised that a male subject with blood on his clothes was in front of his residence screaming for help. He said the subject was saying someone had just killed his mother in a residence down the street.

When officers arrived, they spoke with both men and were able to determine the exact address of the residence. As officers began containing the area, a gunshot was heard coming from inside the residence where the incident had supposedly taken place. Officers immediately took cover and began evacuating neighboring homes.

The Tucson Police Hostage Negotiation Unit, SWAT Unit and Bomb Unit responded to assist with the incident. Hostage negotiators began using a loud speaker in an attempt to speak with anyone inside of the home. Negotiators attempted contact for over two hours, but received no response and saw no movement inside. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and the Bomb Unit utilized their robot to enter the home. The robot is equipped with a camera that provides a live video feed to the officers outside. By utilizing the robot and camera, officers were able to see that at least one adult male appeared to be deceased in the living room. The robot was able to search through most of the home, but was not able to gain entry into a back bedroom.

SWAT officers approached the home and used a different camera to see inside of the bedroom. They were able to see an adult male and an adult female that appeared to be deceased. SWAT officers then entered the home and were able to confirm what they had seen on the cameras.

Detectives were able to piece together that Rusty had murdered his wife, Willa, earlier that day inside of the home. She was found in a back bedroom with obvious signs of trauma. At approximately 3:00 p.m., Matthew Johnson (Willa’s son) came home and was shot multiple times by Rusty in the living room. Just after 4:00 p.m., Matthew’s twin brother arrived at the home and was confronted by Rusty at gunpoint. From interviews and evidence located at the scene, it appears that Rusty attempted to shoot Matthew’s brother, but his gun malfunctioned. Rusty then forced Matthew’s brother to a back bedroom where he retrieved a second gun that also malfunctioned. A physical altercation ensued and Matthew’s brother was able to escape from the home and run to a neighboring house where he yelled for help. Matthew’s brother had a laceration on his head and several abrasions.

Detectives believe the gunshot heard by responding officers was from Rusty Coblyn taking his own life.

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