A Caledonia man was sentenced to serve five years in prison after a circuit court jury found him guilty of manslaughter on Thursday.
Justin Coggins, 21, was sentenced to 20 years, five to serve in prison and 15 years suspended. Judge James Howard delivered the sentencing Friday morning.
Coggins was accused of shooting and killing his mother’s fiance, Dustin Hoffpauir, 33, on May 21, 2022 in the garage of the family’s residence on Richards Lane in Caledonia, just hours after his high school graduation.
Coggins testified he witnessed Hoffpauir physically assaulting his mother, Angela Coggins, in the moments leading up to the killing. During the trial, Defense Attorney Rod Ray argued the shooting was done in self-defense.
“That’s his mama,” Ray told jurors during closing arguments Thursday. “… The only parent he has, he’s watching her head get beat on a pool table. … That’s the environment he was living in, an environment where his mother (and her) boyfriend stayed into it, and he’s in the middle of it … to the point where he had it when he said stop, and (Hoffpauir) didn’t stop.”
To be found not guilty by reason of self-defense, the defendant must reasonably believe that death or great bodily harm is imminent, and the force used to defend himself and others must not be disproportionate to the force he is facing.
Marc Amos, assistant district attorney for the 16th Circuit Court, said the alleged abuse did not justify the killing or the force Justin Coggins used against Hoffpauir, whom he shot three times. The prosecution’s argument hinged on a 911 call made from Hoffpauir’s phone, moments before his death.
“You don’t get to be the judge, jury and executioner,” Amos told jurors. “That’s not your role just because you’re mad somebody hit your mama, but that’s what Justin Coggins did. He became the judge, the jury and the executioner.”
The shooting
The day of the shooting, Hoffpauir, Angela and Justin Coggins arrived home, all separately, after an outing following Coggins’ graduation, according to Angela’s testimony.
When Hoffpauir arrived home, he and Angela began arguing in the kitchen. Hoffpauir followed her into the garage, pushed her into the pool table and began hitting her “everywhere,” she said.
Angela said she heard Justin yell “stop” twice, at which point, Hoffpauir ceased the attack. She began to flee toward her truck outside but looked back and saw Hoffpauir and Justin struggling against the pool table, wrestling for a gun in Justin’s hands.
Angela pushed Hoffpauir, who then came toward her with a “crazed” look in his eyes. Then she heard two shots from her right side, where Justin was standing. When Hoffpauir fell, Justin called 911.
Evidence showed Hoffpauir suffered three gunshot wounds, one through his back, one through the side of his chest and one through the side of his chin.
The prosecution argued this was an “absolutely disproportionate” use of force against Hoffpauir, who was unarmed.
The prosecution presented a 911 call, made from Hoffpauir’s phone, wherein two gunshots can be heard, followed seconds later by another sound Amos and Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks believe to be Hoffpauir’s body hitting the garage floor.
The first gunshot, they inferred, was fired before 911 was dialed, indicating there was enough time between the first and second shot for Hoffpauir to dial 911 and for Justin to stop firing.
“Dustin was wounded,” Davidson-Brooks said. “He was injured. Whatever danger the defendant perceived was gone. Dustin couldn’t do anything else, but did the defendant stop? No, he didn’t stop. He shot him two more times.”
Davidson-Brooks said Justin’s actions went beyond the bounds of self-defense from protection into execution.
“You have a right to protect, but you don’t have a right to execute anyone,” Davidson-Brooks said. “Dustin got the death penalty. … All (Coggins) had to do after that threat was eliminated, after he shot, was call 911, but instead he wanted to do one last thing, and that was take (Hoffpauir’s) life.”
Ray said the number of gunshots heard on the call didn’t change the circumstances proving self-defense.
“I listened to it last night … it may be two, may be three, may be 100,” Ray told jurors. “What’s that prove? It goes to a theory that they came up with. Does it play anybody’s head getting bashed on a pool table before it? Does it show anything that led us to this point? No, it goes to a theory.”
No good outcomes
During sentencing, Hoffpauir’s sister gave a victim impact testimony and asked Judge Howard to impose the maximum sentence of 20 years.
Ray requested the judge be lenient since Justin Coggins is a first-time offender. There were “no good outcomes” for this case, he said.
“I think it was a fair trial,” Ray told The Dispatch during jury deliberation. “It’s just heartbreaking for everybody involved. It’s just terrible. There are no winners.”
Davidson-Brooks agreed and said justice was served.
“This is a case that’s tragic for both sides, but the justice system worked,” Davidson-Brooks told The Dispatch Friday. “The family now can start to have closure. A jury verdict I don’t think is going to heal them … but now they can start with closure, knowing that the person who took their loved one has been held accountable and is going to jail.”
The headline of this article and some references to alleged abuse have been updated since original publication.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
