PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tigard police are investigating a homicide after two people were found dead inside the Embassy Suites Hotel near Washington Square Mall on Friday, according to officials.
Officers were called to the scene around 1:30 a.m. for a reported disturbance with a weapon at SW Washington Square Road. Witnesses told police they heard possible gunshots in the area — but officials have not yet confirmed how either person died.
Tigard Police Public Information Officer Kelsey Anderson told KOIN 6 News the event shocked residents.
“The community’s sense of safety here is a little shaken right now,” Anderson said. “You have somebody who potentially just killed two people. So, we understand the concern.”
Police are still working to find out who is responsible for the two men’s death.
While investigators believe the suspect fled the hotel, police said they do not think the community is in any immediate danger.
“We have a suspect in a double homicide, so I think we can’t say there’s no threat,” Anderson explained. “But I can say here at the hotel, there is not an active threat. And people in this area are safe as it relates to this investigation.”
Police say the Washington Major Crimes Team is now leading the investigation.
Neither of the men’s identities will be released until their families are notified, but police were able to confirm the victims were from Portland.
Despite the men being from Portland, police have said they have not been able to find a connection between this incident and the early morning shooting outside a hotel in South Portland that also occurred Friday.
“We’re looking into that,” Anderson said. “But at this point, we don’t have any evidence that connects what happened here to what happened there.”
KOIN 6 News’ Joelle Jones contributed to this report.