A two-year-old child's life tragically ended this past Thursday in Portland, suspected to be another victim of the sweeping fentanyl crisis, according to a report by the Portland Police Bureau. Responding to a cardiac arrest call at a residence on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, police found that the child had already been rushed to the hospital, where, despite emergency care, she passed away; preliminary investigations suggest fentanyl played a role in her death.
As the community grapples with the loss of the innocent, the PPB's Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit digs into the circumstances of the case, yet no arrests have come to fruition, and the mother, having left the scene as the initial drama unfolded, is a significant person of interest though her name has been withheld, investigators are urging her, and any relevant individuals with knowledge of the child's environment to come forward in a bid to weave together the narrative that culminated in such a profound tragedy.
"I am incredibly saddened to hear about the death of this little girl," Police Chief Bob Day lamented in a statement, acknowledging the ripple effect of devastation that follows such a loss — touching family, friends, neighbors, emergency responders, and rippling through the community at large. The Bureau pledges to press on, with an unwavering commitment to bringing those responsible for the illegal distribution of lethal substances such as fentanyl to justice.
Equipped with the grim statistic that since the onset of 2024, there have been over two hundred reported overdoses, with children tragically accounting for some of these incidents, the PPB is not just facing an isolated event but a broader, menacing trend that continues to ensnare the city's youth, they will no doubt continue their collaboration with the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office to staunch the supply of fentanyl and hold distributors accountable.
Among the sea of overdose cases managed by the Portland Police Bureau, 2024 brought the crisis to the doorsteps of the city's youngest residents, with five children included in the count — a solemn reminder of the peril that fentanyl represents to every member of society, regardless of age.
