Sheriff's officials released their final conclusions today about a New Year's Day triple murder and suicide carried out by a 25-year-old naval officer at a Coronado condominium, revealing new details about the shooting rampage but providing no answers as to what motivated it.
Killed along with the gunman, John Robert Reeves of Prince Frederick, Md., in the shooting rampage in the 1000 block of Park Place early on the morning of Jan. 1 were his roommate and fellow Miramar-based pilot-in-training, David Reis, 25; Reis' 24-year-old sister, Karen; and 31-year-old Matthew Saturley of Chula Vista.
Reeves, the Reis siblings, both of Bakersfield, and Saturley had celebrated New Year's Eve at a downtown San Diego nightclub before returning shortly after 2 the next morning to the rental residence where the servicemen lived.
Reeves entered the residence first and immediately armed himself with two guns he owned -- a Springfield Armory M1 30-06-caliber rifle and a Taurus PT1911 .45-caliber pistol, according to a sheriff's report. He then went upstairs and waited for the others to come inside, the document states.
A few moments later, Saturley and Karen Reis, who worked as a high school assistant volleyball coach, entered the condo. Upon reaching the third floor, they were met by Reeves, who shot them with the rifle, according to investigators. Numerous rounds struck Saturley in the upper body, and Karen Reis was shot in the face and chest.
Hearing the gunfire and his sister's screams, David Reis ran inside, according to the report. As he reached the base of the stairway to the third floor, Reeves shot him three times with the pistol from above, striking David Reis in the left hand, thigh and back.
Reeves then turned the handgun on himself, shooting himself in the head.
"The investigation did not confirm a clear motive for the murders,'' the sheriff's report states.
