A 13-year-old boy in Oregon was killed when a stray bullet fired two apartments over penetrated multiple walls and struck him while he was sleeping.
Liam Spahnle-Bailey, a teen, was struck by gunfire following a shooting in a nearby unit, according to a Gresham Police Department news release.
According to police, paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. Spahnle-Bailey was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Officers found another person who had been struck by gunfire nearby. According to a news release from Gresham police, the person was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
On Monday, Liam’s father, William Spahnle, and his 19-year-old brother, Gordon Mott-Bailey, spoke with KATU about the shooting. They both expressed how much they loved Liam.
“I put my son to sleep in the living room on the air mattress and thinking he’d be safe,” William recounted to KATU. “I made a mistake and find it difficult to accept responsibility. I am told not to. I just wish I could do things differently, but it doesn’t matter right now.
Mott-Bailey reflected on his brother’s death, saying he was sad he wouldn’t see him grow up. “He was my best friend.” “He’s the best,” Mott-Bailey told KATU. “I loved him like he was a kid of my own.”
A GoFundMe page for the family stated that any donations would help the family deal with their son’s unexpected death.
“At only 13 years old, Liam has touched many people’s lives,” the GoFundMe post read. “His family remembers him as loving, funny, genuine, and a wonderful friend and son. According to his friends, he always had a smile on his face and made sure that everyone around him did as well.
Gresham police say the investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information about the shooters should contact their office. Information about the potential shooting suspects was not immediately available.
“This is an example of terrible violence in our community. “It breaks my heart to see such a young life taken away,” Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said in a statement. “Anytime a child is lost in our community, it is heartbreaking. But when it happens in such a senseless, violent way, it’s beyond infuriating.”
