BY SAM CHARLES AND BRIAN SLODYSKO
Chicago Sun-Times
A man suspected of shooting his estranged wife and 5-year-old daughter to death inside a Little Village home early Tuesday remained in critical condition after he turned the gun on himself, police said.
Officers discovered the family at the single-story home in the 2800 block of South Kildare about 12:15 a.m., finding 28-year-old Kelly Coca and her daughter, Karla Eguez, each with a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. The 27-year-old husband and father was also found in the house with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Carla Eguez, 5, and Kelly Coca, 28
Neighbors reported hearing arguing coming from the home, shortly before hearing gunshots, a law enforcement source said.
Coca and her daughter had just returned to their home on Kildare after a trip to Miami, where her estranged husband lives, the source said. Carla had spent a month with her father, the source said.
Coca and her daughter were dead at the scene, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The 27-year-old man, whose name was not released, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.
In January 2011, Coca was the alleged victim of a domestic battery. The Florida man charged with the crime allegedly performed a leg lock on her, dragged her from her room and began punching her head. He then allegedly bit her on the right hand, causing her to bleed.
The man, who records indicate was enlisted in the U.S. Army, was arrested and held in lieu of $10,000 bail. The charges were later dropped.
Nohemi Cossio, who identified herself as Coca’s cousin, said Coca was happy to be building a new life in the United States, after moving here from her native Bolivia.
“I want people to remember my cousin, remember how eager she was to live life and progress in this country,” Cossio said. “She came here four years ago, and she was doing very good for herself and her daughter.”
Karla Eguez was about to start kindergarten at Epiphany Catholic School, where she attended a pre-K program last year. Scott Ernst, the principal there, said she the staff remember her as “ a great student, a happy student. Obviously we’re grieving, and our hearts go out to the family,” he said. “It’s been tough for the entire community.”
Cossio said Karla was a happy, loving child.
“She would run up to everyone and hug them. She was always so happy,” Cossio said. “She wanted to grow up to be just like her mother.”
Coca worked for Swisher Hygiene. A company van was parked across the street from her home Tuesday morning.
“We are incredibly saddened to hear about this tragic news,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all that have been affected by this senseless tragedy. Kelly was a model employee and she will surely be missed.”
Contributing: Jon Seidel, Stefano Esposito, John Carpenter and Cat Zakrzewski
Family photos were displayed, along with flowers, outside the home of Kelly Coca and her daughter, Karla Eguez. (Photo by Cat Zakrzewski)