On July 8, 2018 at 12:49pm Multnomah County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a report of an adult female with a gun in the backyard of a residence in the 20600 block of NE Sandview Drive in Fairview.

The homeowner called 911 after observing the unknown female “acting strangely” while holding a handgun to her chest.   MCSO deputies and Gresham Police Department officers responded and began talking to the suicidal woman, while evacuating nearby residences and closing NE Sandy Blvd between NE 205th Ave and NE Fairview Pkwy for the public’s safety.

Deputies quickly determined that the woman was suffering a severe mental health crisis, and refused to put down the firearm despite repeated requests from deputies.   Trained crisis negotiators from the East County Metro SWAT Team arrived and were able to establish a dialog and attempted to get her the help that she needed. 

Negotiators spent approximately three and a half hours talking to the distraught woman, and were prepared to talk with her for as long as was necessary to come to a safe resolution.  During the conversation the female, without notice, fired a single shot with the firearm.  Emergency medical personnel were brought in immediately, but despite their life saving efforts, the woman died at the scene.

This is an on-going investigation, in conjunction with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office.  No further details are available at this time, and MCSO will not be releasing the name of the deceased woman out of respect for the privacy of her grieving family and friends.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office would encourage anybody going through a mental health crisis to call the Mental Health Crisis Intervention Hotline at 503-988-4888 or 800-716-9769.  They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Residents that were affected by the situation are encouraged to contact the Trama Intervention Program (T.I.P.) Hotline at 503-823-3937.  If you have additional information, please contact our tip line at 503-988-0560.

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