Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to accurately reflect the nature of the incident.
Daleville, Indiana (WXIN) – A 38-year-old veteran was shot dead in a remote Indiana cemetery after he confronted a group that sped into his path and nearly hit his wife while shouting profanities and making obscene gestures towards her, reveal court documents.
three children witnessed the shooting at the cemetery firsthand, according to the documents.
Four suspects, including Alexander Geesy, 18; Ryan Geesy, 22; Brandi Zirkle, 31; and Zirkle’s mother, Dawn Schattner, 53 – all of Anderson – have been arrested and charged with the murder of Randall Coomer, of Daleville, Indiana.
Alexander Geesy faces the sole charge of murder. Witnesses told police it was the 18-year-old who pulled the trigger, killing the Marine Corps veteran.
According to court documents, the four suspects and three children went to Sharp Cemetery on July 22 to celebrate a birthday. Schattner and one of the children were in a white Ford Explorer while the two Geesys, Zirkle and the other two children were in a red Ford Focus, according to the suspects’ interviews with police.
Stephanie Coomer, wife of Randall Coomer, was parked along the road so she could get her mail from her mailbox when the Focus and Explorer pulled up the road shortly before 2 p.m. Stephanie Coomer told police she was nearly hit by the speeding ticket. vehicles and that the occupants of the red Ford Focus were shouting profanity at him and making obscene gestures as he passed.
One of the children later gave investigators the same details, saying the occupants of the Focus yelled at Stephanie Coomer and knocked her over as they passed her on the way to the cemetery because she was parked from the wrong side of the road as she received her mail.
After seeing the vehicle turn into the cemetery, Stephanie Coomer drove to her home and, while still sitting in her car, told her husband what had just happened. Randall Coomer decided to drive to the cemetery and confront the group, planning to tell them to slow down, Stephanie Coomer told police.
At 2:02 p.m., Stephanie Coomer called her husband, concerned for his safety. During her conversation, she heard “metallic noises” which she mistook for gunshots. Frightened, she rushed to the graveyard in time to see the Focus and the Explorer speeding away.
As the two vehicles ran past, the occupants again shouted profanities and knocked her over, she said. At the cemetery, her husband was lying in a ditch with a bullet through his heart.
By the time first responders arrived, Randall Coomer was dead. There remained at the scene a spent .40 caliber shell casing and a “Mr. “Frog” choker containing two keys.
Shot in a cemetery
Schattner later told police they went to the cemetery to see headstones.
Suspects and child witnesses told investigators that Randall Coomer arrived at the cemetery angry. Schattner told police that Randall Coomer was “verbally abusive”, passionate about shouting profanity at his wife. This led to a confrontation between Randall Coomer and Ryan Geesy.
“I’m crazy and I get a check for this s—. Don’t fuck with me,” Randall Coomer warned Ryan Geesy, according to a police interview with Schattner.
Randall Coomer allegedly punched Ryan Geesy, at which point Alexander Geesy pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at Randall Coomer, according to Schattner and child witnesses.
Alexander Geesy ordered Randall Coomer to the ground, firing a warning shot at one point, according to court documents. However, Randall Coomer did not comply and attempted to retreat to his truck. Alexander Geesy fired again, running Randall Coomer.
Alexander Geesy reportedly fired several more shots as Randall tried to escape, with the veteran falling into a ditch after being hit.
Schattner told police that after fleeing the scene, Alexander Geesy began to panic, frantically saying he was going to jail and that he was only 18 years old. After dropping off Schattner and the children, Zirkle and the Geesys fled to Tennesee, authorities said. .
Zirkle later told police that while in Tennessee, the three discussed a plan for Ryan Geesy to take Alexander Geesy’s downfall. After police arrested the Geesys and Zirkle in Muncie, Indiana on July 29, Zirkle initially told police it was Ryan Geesy who pulled the trigger.
But Zirkle later recanted her story, saying she had wanted to try to protect Alexander Geesy because she loved him, but he was the one who actually shot and killed Randall Coomer.
Police say Ryan Geesy also tried to take responsibility for the shooting, but later admitted it was his brother who shot Randall Coomer on July 22. offer Coomer help or even call 911 because they were scared.
Court documents also reveal that on July 29, before Zirkle and the Geesys were arrested, Ryan Geesy called a detective and claimed to have Alexander Geesy and Zirkle as hostages in Muncie.
Reveal the truth
Police spoke to Schattner, Zirkle’s mother, on July 25 to ask about her daughter and the Geesys. In initial conversations with police, Schattner denied knowing why officers might be looking for Zirkle and the Geesys. She never mentioned being at the cemetery.
But on July 28, Schattner changed her tune while in hospital and contacted police to tell them she had witnessed a homicide.
Schattner ended up telling the detectives the whole story, stating that she just wanted to protect her children. She even admitted to giving Alexander Geesy the Ford Explorer to allow him and his daughter to flee the state.
After speaking with Schattner, police were taken to a home owned by a relative of the Geesys. At home, police found the red Ford Focus in an alley. The Focus had dirt clinging to the undercarriage, consistent with missing clumps in the graveyard near Randall Coomer’s body. Also hanging from the rear-view mirror was a “M. Lanyard “Frog”, of the same make as that found at the scene.
Police spoke to relatives of the Geesys who told investigators they would let Alexander Geesy borrow the car as he did not have his own. A family member also told police she bought Alexander Geesy a .40 caliber handgun just days before the shooting after Alexander Geesy pawned his own gun.
Footage later recovered by investigators showed both the white Explorer and the red Focus at a gas station in Anderson on July 22, about half an hour before the shooting. Alexander Geesy can be seen in surveillance footage stepping out of the driver’s seat of the red Focus into the gas station. A handgun is seen on his hip, documents reveal.
When speaking to police later, Zirkle said she gave up her legal rights over her children after the shooting after the children – aged 16, 14 and 8 – witnessed the murder .
Zirkle said she thought the children would be safer with Schattner because “clearly they weren’t with me,” according to court documents.
Consequences and reflection
On August 4, charges were formally filed against the Geesys, Zirkle and Schattner by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
Alexander Geesy is charged with murder and obstruction of justice. Ryan Geesy is charged with assisting a criminal and obstructing justice. Brandi Zirkle is charged with aiding a criminal, obstruction of justice and three counts of neglect of a dependent. Dawn Schattner is charged with assisting a criminal, obstructing justice and neglecting a dependent.
Zirkle, Ryan Geesy and Schattner could face up to six years in prison on their most serious charge. Alexander Geesy faces between 45 and 65 years in prison for his murder charge.
Following the arrests, Stephanie Coomer released the following statement to WXIN:
“I am eternally grateful to all officers and detectives in Delaware County. He was my whole world, my heart and soul, and I hope they pay for what they did to him.
Stephanie Coomer, wife of Randall Coomer
