Argay Terrace man kills son, then self

Here’s why there were investigators swarming in this typically quiet outer East Portland neighborhood. You’ll find emergency metal health help information here, also …

A small, looping street in the Argay Terrace neighborhood is blocked off, as detectives try to unravel a tragic event.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

There are only three homes located on the short length of the 13600 block of NE Milton Street; Portland Police Bureau (PPB) North Precinct officers were urgently dispatched to one of them on Monday, May 4, at 7:37 a.m.

There had been a report of two men shot at that location.

“Officers located two male adults shot at the location; they were both pronounced deceased at the scene, and the firearm believed to be involved in the incident was recovered,” confirmed PPB Public Information Officer Lieutenant Tina Jones.

Officers stand by, awaiting the arrival of PPB Homicide Detail detectives.

It quickly became clear to Detectives with the PPB Homicide Detail that the men had known each another, and that the shooting hadn’t been done by someone from outside the house.

The same day, Jones said, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the two who died were related family members “in what appears to be a murder-suicide event.”

Inside the red police tape, an investigation reveals that a man shot his son, and then himself.

According to state officials, 52-year-old William O’Connor died as the result of homicide by gunfire. “It is believed his father, Michael O’Connor, was responsible for his death,” Jones said. “Michael O’Connor, age 78, died as the result of suicide by gunfire.” The motive for the family tragedy has not yet been established.

Mental health resources available
“Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable,” Jones remarked, as she provided several resources, including:

Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888.
Visit Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare’s Urgent Walk-In Clinic, located at 4212 SE Division and is open from 7am to 10:30pm, 7 days a week. Services are free and available to individuals of all ages.
Lines for Life is also available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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