By Justin Martin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-913135.mp3
Dallas, TX – Residents of Coppell continue to cope with the apparent murder-suicide of their mayor and her daughter. KERA's Justin Martin says the police investigation continues today as mourners gather for the memorial.
In this small, upscale suburb of 39,000, no one saw it coming. No one could imagine what police say happened: that their 55 year old Mayor Jayne Peters fired a 9mm pistol, fatally shooting her 19-year old daughter Corrine, then pulled the trigger again and killed herself.
Susan Whiting took a moment to reflect while visiting a city playground. She knew the mayor as a committed public servant, a software engineer whose husband died of cancer several years ago. Whiting wishes someone had known Peters was struggling.
Whiting: Oh my gosh, she was so involved in the community being mayor, and people worked with her everyday and didn't see any signs of anything wrong, and that something like this can happen when nobody saw it coming is very, very scary.'
Even more disturbing to some is that the Mayor apparently sacrificed her daughter. Corrine Peters was preparing to enter college at the University of Texas in Austin. Coppell resident Michelle Wagonner is upset that the young woman didn't have a chance to develop her potential.
Wagonner: When I first heard about it, it just broke my heart, seeing somebody who was just beginning to live their life, have to end that way so tragically, you just think in an area like this things like that don't happen.'
Thursday as flags flew at half staff over Coppell City Hall, some citizens became upset that officials would honor a woman believed to have brought so much grief.
Coppell city manager Clay Phillips says the flags are just a recognition of loss.
Phillips: There are emotions on all sides of this issue, shock, anger, disappointment, grief, and they're all appropriate. So we're just simply trying to do the correct recognition of the fact that our mayor has passed away, with no additional value being placed on that action.'
Police say notes left by Mayor Peters provided no explanation for the apparent murder-suicide. Their investigation continues as they try to determine what caused the shootings and where Peters got her gun.
A memorial service for mother and daughter is scheduled for 2pm Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Coppell.