Hillsboro man's shooting spree leaves two dead
CORNELIUS, Ore. - Police are calling it "a random act of extreme violence" that has left two - including the shooter - dead.
A police chase that began in Hillsboro, with a man shooting off a gun in traffic, has ended in Cornelius with his death. The shooting began at Southeast 10th Avenue and Oak Street in Hillsboro at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The suspect reportedly got out of his car at the intersection, and fired at least six rounds from a handgun - riddling a red Honda with bullet holes.
At least one bullet struck the passenger in that car, Danny LeGore. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to Portland's Oregon Health & Science University hospital, and died a short time later. LeGore would have turned 56 in December.
Police said LeGore appears to have no connection to the suspect in this case.
"It appears to be a random act of extreme violence," states a Hillsboro Police press release.
Friends and neighbors of LeGore, who lived in Hillsboro, said they are "still in shock."
"He was probably one of the nicest people [where we live]," said one. They told a KATU reporter that LeGore had just purchased a truck and travel trailer and had just taken his first trip.
"He was ready to enjoy life - when he was caught up in this," said a friend. "This is terrible ... it's a shock to everybody."
The rest of the road for the shooter
After making what proved to be fatal shots into LeGore's car, the shooter drove westbound on Hillsboro's Southeast Baseline Street. He was soon tailed by "an alert Hillsboro Police Officer," according to a Hillsboro police press release, and followed west into Cornelius.
Police said the suspect continued driving at "a high rate of speed while firing at officers into Cornelius." The suspect reportedly crashed his vehicle at South 13th Avenue and North Adair Street - near the Grande Foods market in Cornelius.
Police said the suspect continued to fire on officers, with the officers returning fire. The officers were not struck by what the press release reports as a "barrage of suspect's bullets."
The shooter was shot and killed by that return fire about four miles down the road from the fateful Hillsboro intersection. He was pronounced dead just before 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. A KATU News check of motor vehicle records - for the car being driven by the shooter - turns up a registered owner of Shawn M. Schumacher, a Hillsboro resident born in 1981.
Motive for why the suspect initially fired into traffic is yet unknown. Police originally said they believed some sort of "traffic altercation" kicked it off.
Southeast 10th Avenue in Hillsboro was closed for the afternoon between Southeast Oak and Walnut Streets. Cornelius Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Washington County Major Crimes Team are investigating the shooting along with the Hillsboro Police Department.
Follow the shooter's reported trail.