Troutdale, Oregon is a windy, but otherwise unremarkable, suburb of Portland. Its exposure to the Columbia River Gorge contributes to its windy reputation. Today, there was more than the sound of wind being heard in this bedroom community of 16,000.
“Boom, Boom…Boom, Boom, Boom”. That was the description of one witness. Her knees gave way and she fell to the ground as she listened to the gunfire, five shots as she heard them standing just outside the school. She prayed her daughter wasn’t caught in the gunfire. Many prayed. All but one of those prayers was answered. One was not as one student lay dead when the “Boom, Boom…Boom, Boom, Boom” ended. The lone gunman also died and a teacher was wounded.
Not enough bodies to be real news. Just a little terror for the parents of the students at Reynolds High School in windy Troutdale. No news here. Just another day at school in America. Just another firearm. Just another gun death. Just one of roughly 30 that likely happened across our land today. No news here.
UPDATE: The student who was killed has been identified by his family as Emilio Hoffman. His girlfriend posted this:
“Please dont be true. I love you emilio. I love you so much. You were my first kiss and the first guy I truely loved. I miss you so much.”
This is the 74th school shooting in the United States since Sandy Hook…the 37th this year.
The shooter was an, as yet, unidentified teen with an assault rifle.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.