PORTLAND — American flags were lowered at Portland City Hall and other locations Wednesday in remembrance of three children who were slain April 11, a Portland commissioner said.
The flags at half-staff follow the deaths of sisters Janet Cortinas-Duran, 8, and Jasmine Duran-Cortinas, 11, of Portland and Shawn Scott Jr., 17, of Vancouver. All three died from gunshots, police have said.
“These senseless deaths of children rattle me to the core, especially coming so close together,” Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman said in a news release.
Portland police said Scott, who was a junior at Union High School, was walking in Holladay Park when he was approached by two men and a juvenile who attempted a robbery. Detectives learned the suspects wanted to steal a belt worn by Scott and later arrested Miguel Thompson, 19, Kole Tabian Jones, 18, and Malique Kennerly-Hicks, 17, in connection with the crime, according to court records.
Gresham, Ore., police said last month that the sisters, who attended Glenfair Elementary School, died from multiple gunshots by their father. Officers had exchanged gunfire with him before finding the sisters at the 16200 block of Northeast Glisan Street.
