Woman suspected in fatal shooting of Fort Bragg businesswoman surrenders

The woman suspected of shooting a Caspar resident to death Tuesday in a property-related dispute has turned herself in to authorities, Mendocino County Sheriff’s officials said Wednesday evening.

Kelley Ann Coan, 39, surrendered to the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office and was booked into jail on suspicion of murder. Mendocino County detectives were en route to interview Coan and pick up the victim’s vehicle, which Coan had in her possession in San Joaquin County, officials said.

A Caspar resident reported shots fired about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on the Caspar Little Lake Road property where Jamie Dawn Shipman, 57, lived with her husband as well as Coan and her 20-year-old son, officials said. Responding deputies did not see anything suspicious or hear additional gunshots at the 33-acre property, comprised of dense pygmy forest where homes are far apart, officials said.

Steve Shipman discovered his wife’s body about 11 a.m. and phoned for medical help, saying his wife had been shot, according to the dispatch call.

When investigators arrived at the property, they found Jamie Shipman dead.

Investigators learned the suspect lived in the same area with her son. Neither own property at the site, said Sheriff’s Lt. Shannon Barney.

There are multiple residences on the property. Barney said Coan’s son was questioned.

The victim’s vehicle, a blue 2009 Chevrolet HHR with “American Repair Co.” painted across the side, was missing after the shooting. The Shipmans own American Repair Co., a marine motor repair and boat supply shop based in Fort Bragg.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 707-462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @MendoReporter.