PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A woman was found shot to death near Portland State University early Monday and a 20-year-old surrendered to authorities in Bend later in the day.
Keenan Harpole turned himself in to deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and was brought back to Portland and turned over to Portland police. Harpole was booked into the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for 2nd-degree murder, domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon.
Harpole was a former running back on the PSU football team in the 2021 season. (A statement from PSU is near the bottom of this article.)
The shooting happened at the corner of SW College and 6th, in front of Mak’s Market and across the street from the Cheerful Tortoise Bar. Students living in the dorms near the intersection told KOIN 6 News they heard multiple gunshots around 1 a.m.
Responding officers found the woman outside the market. The victim’s name has not been released. This is Portland’s 24th homicide so far this year.
The store closes at midnight, about an hour before the shooting. Owner Nader Macboul told KOIN 6 News he closes the store earlier than in previous times because of the increased crime in the area. He said his outdoor security cameras were stolen a few weeks ago.
“In the past couple of months I’ve had 3 break-ins, had to secure all of the windows around my store, and there’s been a shooting around here a couple of times,” he said.
Students received an email from PSU about the shooting and offered counseling support. They also reminded students that PSU campus police offers a safety escort service.
In a statement released on Monday, Portland State University officials said the school community is “saddened to learn that the epidemic of deadly gun violence that has plagued so many cities has hit close to home.”
“PSU prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students and employees and our Campus Public Safety Officers are in contact with the Portland Police Bureau which is leading the investigation,” the statement read. “We don’t have further information about the incident at this time and there is no ongoing threat to our campus.”
Later, PSU officials released this statement about the arrest:
“Portland State University has learned tonight from the Portland Police Bureau that a first year student and former football player at PSU, Keenan Harpole, is the alleged assailant in today’s tragic shooting near campus. This is an unthinkable tragedy and we extend our deepest sympathies to all of those who are impacted by this incident. We will work together as a campus community to heal, reminding each other that violence is never the answer to the problems that we encounter.”
To be clear, PSU campus police were not involved in the shooting. Following the shooting death of Jason Washington by PSU campus police, the university paid his family a $1 million settlement and no longer carry guns.
Investigators are looking for witnesses and video from nearby cameras.
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Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0889 or Detective William Winters at William.Winters@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0466.