PORTLAND, Ore. – Authorities have released new details after three family members were found dead inside a Southeast Portland home over the weekend, in what investigators describe as a double murder-suicide that has shaken the Brentwood-Darlington community.
Tragedy in a Family Home
Portland police said on Saturday evening, a 22-year-old man fatally shot his 46-year-old mother and his 10-year-old sister before taking his own life. Officers were dispatched to the 7000 block of Southeast 64th Avenue around 5 p.m. following reports of a possible suicide.
When they arrived, officers found the three deceased from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Detectives believe no one else was involved in the killings.
The victims’ names have not yet been released. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify them publicly after completing autopsies.
School Community in Mourning
Although police have not officially identified the victims, the principal of Woodmere Elementary School sent a letter to parents confirming that one of the deceased was a student at the school.
“It’s with tremendous sadness that we share that one of our students tragically lost their life on Saturday evening,” wrote Principal Katherine Polizos.
In response, the Portland Public Schools district has mobilized its Trauma Intervention Program and school counseling team to support grieving classmates and staff. “Staff will be centering care, compassion, and empathy as we move through the coming days, and I know many students will be deeply impacted,” Polizos said.
Neighbors React to Devastating News
The killings have left neighbors reeling. Many said they were stunned by the heavy police presence and the grim realization that three lives were lost inside the home.
“You know something serious is going on when there’s not an ambulance taking people away,” said neighbor Karen Montez, describing the scene as “gut-wrenching.”
Another neighbor shared how deeply the tragedy has affected her young son, who was friends with the 10-year-old girl. “He keeps asking all kinds of questions, like, ‘Mom, I didn’t know kids could die.’ He’s really sad about it. He’s really not handling it well,” she told KOIN 6 News.
Police Withhold Further Details
Authorities say the case remains under investigation, but have not provided information about possible motives. For now, officials are focused on supporting the family’s surviving relatives and the wider community.
“This is an incredibly difficult situation,” said a police spokesperson. “We ask the public to give the family privacy as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”
A Community in Shock
The Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, a residential area in Southeast Portland, has been left shaken by the violence. Residents described the family as quiet and well-liked, making the tragedy even more difficult to process.
The deaths underscore the broader toll of gun violence and mental health crises, both of which have increasingly gripped Oregon communities. Local leaders and advocates are calling for increased resources to address family violence, suicide prevention, and trauma care for children.
Moving Forward
In the coming days, counselors will remain at Woodmere Elementary to help students cope with the loss of their classmate. Community members say they plan to come together to support the family and honor the lives lost.
For many, the tragedy has left lingering questions — about what led to the violence, how the family’s grief can be supported, and how the community can help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As one neighbor put it, the loss of a mother and child alongside a son and brother is “a heartbreak that ripples across the entire neighborhood.”
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