Mom shoots and kills intruder in child’s bedroom

Officials say the mother, and the man she found in her house, didn’t know one another. See what else they say about this home invasion shooting …

Police close off streets in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood after they learn a man has been shot inside a residence.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When arriving home during the wee hours of June 26, 33-year-old Tara-Alexis Ford heard noises coming from coming from a room in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood house she was renting on a dead-end street, in the 4100 block of SE 118th Place.

“Detectives determined that a man broke into Ford’s home through a back window,” said Portland Police Bureau Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson.

“Ford found a 59-year-old man in her 10-year-old daughter’s bedroom, where she shot at the man,” Simpson said. “Both her daughter and 5-year-old son were in the home, but were in a different bedroom at the time of the shooting,” he added.

This undated Oregon DMV photo is of 59-year-old David Daniel McCrary, who officials say died from a gunshot would after being discovered inside a private home.

Officers and medical personnel arrived and contacted the homeowner, who directed them inside the home. There, officers found a deceased male, later identified as David Daniel McCrary of Gresham.

“Detectives determined that McCrary broke into Ford’s home through a back window,” Simpson reported. “She reportedly used her own handgun to shoot and kill him.”

What detectives have not yet been able to unravel is why McCrary broke into the victim’s home in the first place.

Into the night, officers investigate this shooting, that may be ruled “self defense”.

”Ford has no connection to McCrary, and he is not from the neighborhood,” Simpson said. “McCrary has no significant criminal history, but there was a recent report indicating that McCrary may have been struggling with mental health issues.”

Later that day, Simpson announced the findings of the Oregon State Medical Examiner: McCrary had indeed died of a single gunshot wound.

“Ms. Ford remains cooperative with detectives, and the case will be reviewed by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office,” Simpson said.

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