PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The man found with a fatal gunshot wound Saturday morning at the Oregon Culinary Institute was a well-respected chef and an instructor at the school.
Sixty-three-year-old Daniel C. Brophy of Beaverton was found by students arriving at OCI in Southwest Portland. Emergency personnel arrived around 8:30 a.m. and were unable to revive him.
“First aid, police and fire personnel got here and rendered aid, ultimately that aid was unsuccessful. They were not able to save his life,” Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said.
Brophy was found in the kitchen area. An autopsy determined that he died of homicidal violence.
Officers also searched the building and found no other victims.
The Oregon Culinary Institute shared this statement on Facebook:
Our prayers are with all who are affected by the horrible tragedy that took place this morning. All we know at this point is the information the Portland Police have released to the local media. They can’t give us anymore info until they complete their investigation.
Former student Travis Richartz told KOIN 6 News the OCI family lost a “huge member” of its tight-knit family.
“It’s devastating,” Richartz said. “He was always there to help. He taught us so much. He had so much knowledge and talent to show us.”
Richartz said Brophy went above and beyond for his students as well as the community.
“It was literally his whole life,” he said. “Running nonprofits outside of the school for homeless, so they can eat and trying to find ways to get us more involved in the community to just help guide the community to be better. He wasn’t just a chef, he was a humbled gentleman.”
Richartz said he as well as other students of Brophy are in shock.
“We’re all in shock that something this horrible would happen to such a great guy,” Richartz said. “We never thought in a million years that something like this would happen at Oregon Culinary Institute.”
No suspect information has been released yet. Detectives processed both the inside and outside of the building, 1701 SW Jefferson Street.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Darren Posey at 503.823.0403 or the PPB non-emergency line at 503.823.3333.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story
