Man stabbed to death at Airport Way hotel

UPDATED: Second Suspect Arrested | Here’s what is known so far about a fatal encounter at this outer East Portland lodging – formerly known as the Shilo Inn Airport – in Parkrose …

Arriving to investigate a stabbing in the Parkrose neighborhood, Portland Police Bureau officers, detectives, and criminalists gather at this landmark motel property. Courtesy KATU-2 News

By David F. Ashton

Guests staying at the Sojourn Suites hotel along NE Airport Way (formerly the Shilo Inn Airport) got a rude awakening on Friday morning, March 21, by the arrival of members of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). They were dispatched to the location at 8:02 a.m., on a “Stabbing-with Weapon” call.

Both the PPB officers, and the paramedics, who simultaneously arrived at the hotel, were escorted to the location of a dead man. PPB officials didn’t reveal where, specifically, the victim was found – in a common area, a room, or the lobby area.

“The suspect or suspects fled the scene, and no immediate arrests were made,” tersely revealed a PPB spokesperson.

Portland Police vehicles remain outside this hotel, as the murder investigation is underway. Courtesy KGW-TV News 8

Throughout the day, PPB Homicide Unit Detectives and members of the Forensics Unit were at the scene, investigating the crime.

UPDATE #1:

Officials say it was this man, Hayden Courtright, who died of a stab wound. Family provided photo

On March 25th, Portland Police revealed that the victim in this incident had been identified as 26-year-old Hayden Courtright.

The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be by stab wound and the manner of death to be homicide.

Also, on March, 25, Portland Police arrested 42-year-old Mitch Bryan Schoonover. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 2:59 p.m. that afternoon on three Felony charges: Murder in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Assault in the Third Degree.

Currently, Schoonover is being held, without bail, in the MCDC.

Update No. 2

On April 10, Portland Police revealed that a second suspect had been arrested related to the stabbing homicide investigation of Drew Courtright. On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 54-year-old Anthony Vincent Staggs, turned himself in on a warrant for Assault in the Third Degree. Staggs currently is lodged, without bail, in the MCDC.

The case remains under investigation.

If you have information about this incident, contact Detective Sean Macomber at Sean.Macomber@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0404 or Detective Tony Harris at Tony.Harris@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0441 – and refer to Case No. 25-72238.

This is the seventh homicide this month, and 10th homicide so far this year in the City of Portland, according to the PPB.

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