Man Shoots Groom, Then Kills Himself

After shooting a groom-to-be on the eve of his wedding, Timothy Coast went home and killed himself, police said.

Timothy Jones, 21, was celebrating his upcoming wedding Thursday night at the Cottontree Inn when he was confronted by Coast, Police Lt. Brad Hunt said.

An exchange of words occurred, after which Coast, 36, left the bar.

When Jones and his companions departed early Friday, Coast once more confronted them in the parking lot. After another argument, Coast pulled out a pistol and shot Jones in the abdomen, Hunt said.

He was taken to Bannock Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in serious, but stable, condition.

“He is just in terrible pain right now. My daughter (DaNae Michelle Hicks) is just terribly distraught,” said Debbie Hicks, Jones’ future mother-in-law.

“No one knew him (Coast), or where he came from, but my understanding was that he was extremely suicidal and distraught,” Hicks said.

After the shooting, police said, Coast returned to his apartment where he spoke with an unidentified person. While that individual was talking with police on the telephone, Coast shot himself in the head.

The case remains under investigation and witnesses are being questioned, Hunt said.