Coates, Mark, CPL

Corporal Mark Coates was shot and killed after stopping a car for weaving in traffic on I-95 near the Georgia border. During the traffic stop the suspect began to struggle with Corporal Coates and they both fell to the ground. The suspect fired a .22 caliber handgun into Corporal Coates' chest, but the round was stopped by his vest.

Corporal Coates was able to force the man off of him and return fire, striking the suspect five times in the chest with his .357 caliber revolver. As he retreated for cover and to radio for backup, the suspect fired another shot. The round struck Trooper Coates in the left armpit and traveled into his heart. The suspect survived the incident and was sentenced to life in prison.

Corporal Coates had been with the South Carolina Highway patrol for 5 years, and had previously served with the United States Marine Corps. He was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, sister and brother

Corporal Coates died on November 20th, 1992 during a gun battle that he initially won. I never met Mark but I know he was a cop's cop, a Marine, a son, a dad. I have watched the video of his last trafic stop over 200 times, and everytime I show it, I know that someone in the room is going to be saved by what they learn not from me, but from Mark.  The best way to honor our fallen is to learn from them, and Mark continues to be a wonderful teacher. God bless him and his family and his agency. From a Public Saftey Trainer.