A 13-year-old boy was killed and another person injured during a shooting in Gresham early Sunday morning, authorities reported. The boy, identified as William “Liam” Spahnle-Bailey, was asleep in his father's apartment when bullets from gunfire in an adjacent unit pierced the wall and struck him. Despite immediate aid from officers and paramedics, and swift transport to a local hospital, Liam was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The incident took place in the 4700 block of SW 11th Street, as confirmed by the Gresham Police Department. The Gresham Police responded to the shooting just after 1:30 am, and also discovered another victim of the shooting a short distance from the scene. The second victim had gunshot wounds but was reported to have serious, but not life-threatening injuries and was transported to the local hospital for treatment. This shooting has sparked a larger conversation about gun violence in the community and its often unseen ramifications.
In a statement obtained by the Gresham Oregon official website, Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg said, “Today our entire community is mourning the killing of an innocent child. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, classmates, and neighbors,” and further noted, “This shooting is a tragic reminder of how the impact of gun violence reaches far beyond the shooters and their intended victims.”
The East County Major Crimes Team has taken the lead on this case, a collective effort involving detectives from the Gresham Police Department, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and other law enforcement bodies. Alongside the investigation, the city of Gresham continues to take part in the Ceasefire partnership, intended to curb the cycle of violence through community and employment resources, conflict resolution, and behavioral health support.
Local authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation. Detectives Lindsay Friderich and Martin Daly can be contacted with any potential leads. As the community reels from the loss of a child, efforts are being redoubled to not only solve this case but also to prevent further tragedies from occurring due to gun violence.
