911 call details Mecca shootings

MECCA -- The survivor of what may have been a murder-suicide spent 45 minutes on her cellphone, quietly whispering to Trumbull County 911 dispatchers while lying on the floor of a back bedroom.

She was hiding Sunday evening from the man she described as shooting her mother and, later, himself.

Law enforcement officials are waiting for a coroner's report and reviewing witness testimony before making an official determination about what happened at 6067 Hoagland Blackstub Road in Mecca Township, but sheriff's Major Jeff Palmer said the department is not looking at any suspects outside of those who were inside the home.

The caller, identified on a 911 transcript as Kaitlin Pollnow, 27, of Cortland, called for help at 8:38 p.m. Sunday. She told dispatchers that her mother, Jill Pollnow, 47, and the suspect, identified as Vincent T. Coburn, 64, had been arguing.

About 9 p.m., at least two shots were fired, according to the 911 transcript.

Kaitlin Coburn begged the dispatchers for help, whispering: "He's coming for me."

While dispatchers were working to keep Kaitlin Pollnow calm and on the phone, law enforcement officials were creating a staging area at the Mecca Township garage.

Cortland police shut down Bazetta Road and state Route 88.

About 9:03 p.m., Kaitlin Pollnow said she had not heard anything from inside the house, but was not going to leave the closet, according the 911 call. It was believed Coburn might have shot himself.

About 9:08 p.m., Kaitlin Pollnow told dispatchers that Coburn had been "…banging around (the house) for hours," but she had not heard anything since the two shots.

Law enforcement could not get a clear view of the house due to a large privacy fence that surrounds it.

Kaitlin emphasized she wanted someone to get inside the house to help her mother.

About 9:11 p.m., Kaitlin told dispatchers Coburn had busted down the door to the bedroom and shot her mother. Kaitlin then went into the closet.

Coburn, at the time, told Kaitlin that he was not going to hurt her, she said.

Kaitlin told dispatchers that she was lying on the floor of the closet and they could storm the house at any time.

By 9:16 p.m., Kaitlin could hear police entering the house.

Palmer said deputies saw a male in the living room with a gunshot wound to the head.

Officials found Kaitlin in the closet.

A neighbor, Barbara Barry, 54, said she and several other family members heard a single gunshot coming from the house about 9 p.m. Several moments later, she said they saw police from various departments coming down the road toward the house.

A few moments later, prior to police reaching the house, Barry described hearing 10 additional shots.

"We counted them," she said.

Barry, who has lived in her home for 37 years, described her neighbor as a nice man who would do things for people and ask for nothing in return.

"He was a really nice guy," she said. "He would do anything for you."

Marysue Polivka, Coburn's cousin, said she could not believe he was involved in Sunday's incident.

"He was a very gentle-hearted man who kept to himself," Polivka said. "He would give you anything you needed, so this is hard for me to accept."

Law enforcement said in September 2008, Coburn, then 53, was charged with two counts of felonious assault against an ex-wife and a deputy who arrived at his house to investigate.

The incident occurred at his Hoagland Blackstub Road home.

At the time of the 2008 incident, Coburn's estranged ex-wife told deputies that he pointed a gun at her head and threatened her. When deputies went to talk to him, Coburn refused to put down his gun. He fired it at a sheriff's deputy at least two times, before they returned fire. Deputies were not injured. Coburn suffered three bullet wounds.

Coburn on Nov. 16, 2009, pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault, one with a firearm specification. He was sentenced to three years for the two felonious assault charges and three additional years for using a firearm.

Trumbull County 911 Director Ernest Cook described his dispatchers as doing an excellent job in the emergency situation.

Palmer said the sheriff's department worked with various police departments during the investigation.

rsmith@tribtoday.com