CBS 5 - KPHO Gun expert: Chandler shooting story 'doesn't add up'

Chandler police investigators believe that a worsening pattern of domestic violence led to Eric Coulter murdering his ex-girlfriend, Monique Cota.

According to a probably cause statement written by a Chandler police detective, Cota, 18, told her mother that Coulter was abusing her more frequently, and she was determined to move out of state to get away from him.

"I didn't like him at all, I wasn't happy about them being together," said Mary Cota, Monique's younger sister.

Early Saturday morning, detectives said Coulter called Monique Cota and said something to get her to go to his Chandler home.

Coulter has allegedly admitted to shooting Monique Cota, but according to the court paperwork, he said it was an accident and he thought the gun was unloaded.

Coulter told his siblings that he was holding an AR-15 assault rifle and he pulled the bolt to show Monique Cota that the chamber was empty.

But a firearms expert told CBS 5 News that if Coulter had pulled the bolt back, any round in the chamber would have automatically ejected and there would have never been a shooting.

"It doesn't add up," said Holly Reeves of Arizona Tactical Firearms in Tempe.

Police said Coulter fled after the shooting and detectives found him 17 hours later at a Motel 6 in Mesa with a fake identification and $2,000 in cash.

"It looks like he may have been getting ready to run," said Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo.

Coulter was booked on 2nd degree murder charges and has a $1,000,000 bond.

Meanwhile, Monique Cota's family is trying to raise money for funeral costs and for domestic violence awareness.

There is a family account set up at MidFirst Bank. It is the "Monique Cota Family Support Trust" if you would like to donate.

They are also selling purple ribbons at the Fry's Marketplace where Cota worked. The address is 3949 East Chandler Blvd. in Phoenix.

The ribbons are $1 each and the money will go towards domestic violence awareness.

"Just because she was close to us doesn't mean that there aren't other people out there that have been through this exact thing we're going through," said Mary Cota.

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