Portland Female Homicide Suspect Alive After Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

It began early this morning when Portland Police responded to a report of a man down. Responding officers found the body of a 36-year old adult male.

(REDMOND, Ore.) - A female suspect in a Portland-area homicide investigation is reportedly still alive Wednesday morning after she shot herself in front of officers attempting to negotiate her surrender in Redmond. Initial reports that the suspect died were erroneous and she was airlifted to a Bend-area hospital with a critical head wound. Her name is being withheld at this time.

Around 5:36 AM this morning, Portland Police Bureau responded to the area of SE Boise Avenue and SE 104th Avenue regarding a report of a man down. Responding officers found the body of a 36-year old adult male and initiated an investigation that developed a suspect and associated vehicle. Information regarding the suspect and vehicle, a green Chevrolet Malibu with Oregon license plates, was forwarded to law enforcement agencies.

As Willamette Valley-area law enforcement agencies were on the lookout for the vehicle and suspect, an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper spotted the vehicle at approximately 7:40 AM, about five minutes after hearing a dispatch broadcast. Keeping the suspect vehicle in sight, the OSP trooper followed it until officers from Jefferson County and Madras Police Department arrived to assist with initiating a stop.

State, county and city officers attempted to stop the vehicle southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 113 when it sped up to speeds near 100 mph attempting to elude the officers. As it continued southbound, the suspect evaded several attempts to spike the vehicle's tires to get it to stop. As the vehicle drove through Terrebonne, it was involved in a minor sideswipe crash with a commercial truck when it passed the truck on the right shoulder and struck its left side and the guardrail.

Approaching the city of Redmond, additional officers from Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and OSP were moving into position. A Deschutes County SO deputy was able to spike at least one tire entering the north end of Redmond.

The vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of Northwest Birch and 6th Avenue. The lone female suspect exited the car and fled on foot armed with a handgun towards a car lot. Officers from several agencies followed her and found her behind a building on the car lot.

The scene was contained as officers negotiated with the suspect to surrender as she pointed a handgun at her head. Following several minutes of negotiations, she shot herself once.

Officers immediately began first aid until medical personnel arrived. The suspect was taken by air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend where she is in critical condition.

In coordination with Portland Police Bureau, an investigation is led by Redmond Police Department is being conducted by detectives that are part of an interagency Deschutes County Major Crime Team. OSP Forensic Crime Lab personnel are assisting.