Shot teens were part of exchange program
PORTLAND, Ore. - New details have surfaced regarding the two girls killed by a rampaging gunman who shot nine people in total as well as himself in what police believe may have been a random act of violence in downtown Portland Saturday night.
Police identified one of the deceased as 16-year-old Ashley L. Wilks, a Clackamas High School student from Happy Valley. (She is pictured at right)
The other is Martha "Tika" Paz De Noboa of Arequipa, Peru, who was in the Northwest as part of an international rotary exchange program.
Her host mother, Lori Stadler of White Salmon, Wash., told KATU Monday that it was just a horrible incident.
"She came here because she wanted to know more about America, and this is part of what everybody learns," Stadler said. "And that's, that's so awful because it's a good place. I'm very proud to be an American, and everybody should be, but this is, this is such a horrible thing."
Principal Malcolm Dennis of Columbia High School, where De Noboa was a Junior and had been an exchange student since November, sent a letter home to parents saying: "This random act of violence cut short the life of a wonderful young lady."
Counselors were also on hand Monday to meet with students, and the school held classes according to schedule.
Both girls were part of a group of 11 exchange students who were at an under-21 nightclub called The Zone Saturday night when the gunman opened fire. Wilks, the only U.S. citizen, was getting ready to leave on her exchange trip while the others were here from other countries.
Those injured in the shooting include:
- Ana Zambrano Soledispa, 18, from Ecuador
- Gonzalo Vasquez Orozco, 18, from Guatemala
- Jouyuan Trista Chang, 18, from Taiwan
- Susanna DeSousa, 18, from Italy
- An as yet unidentified 16 year old from France
- An as yet unidentified 16 year old from Portland
- Brad Yoast, 44, of Portland
DeSousa was listed in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital Monday while Chang was listed in serious condition, according to hospital officials.
Two of the others have already been treated and released, but it was not clear which ones. The rest were hospitalized but expected to survive.
The group of students was reportedly celebrating a birthday. It was not clear if they were waiting outside the club to enter when the gunshots began about 10:30 p.m. outside the club, located near Southwest 2nd Avenue and Southwest Pine Street.
The group of students was reportedly celebrating a birthday. It was not clear if they were waiting outside the club to enter when the gunshots began about 10:30 p.m. outside the club, located near Southwest 2nd Avenue and Southwest Pine Street.Eight of the nine people shot were on the sidewalk in front of the nightclub; that included six of the 11 in the exchange student group. A stray bullet also hit Yoast, the manager of the neighboring Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub.
Police have identified the suspect as Erik Salvadore Ayala. He was still listed in critical condition Monday at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland after shooting himself in the head.
There was no indication Ayala knew any of the people shot, said Detective Mary Wheat, spokeswoman for the Portland Police Bureau. She said it does not appear the gunman had been inside either place before the shooting. Police recovered the gun used in the shooting, she said.
"At first blush, this incident appears to be a random act of violence, of the kind that makes you despair for America," said Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer, who described the shooting as "unprecedented" in the city.
Wilks an honor student, athlete
Matt Utterback, the principal of Clackamas High School, said in a letter to parents that Wilks was a bright and curious student who enrolled in honors classes and competed on the swim team.
Ashley's counselor and teachers describe her as "an awesome student with a beautiful smile," the principal said. "She was the kind of person that lights up a room. A truly wonderful, delightful kid."
He identified a critically injured student as Susy DeSousa, an 18-year-old foreign exchange student from Italy.
"This random act of violence has cut short a young life and threatened another," he said. "Such a horrific act is impossible to accept or understand."
Monday is a scheduled day off at the high school, but counselors will be available for those in need.
Scott Bieber, the youth protection officer for the Rotary District 5100 exchange program, said: "Our hearts and our sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' parents for their loss.
"But it just kind of makes it harder to fathom when the whole purpose of this program is to foster peace and goodwill and understanding around the world."
- The Associated Press contributed to this report