In the early morning hours of April 27, 2025, the life of 13-year-old Liam Spahnle-Bailey, a White male, was tragically cut short in Gresham, Oregon. He was sleeping on an air mattress in his father's living room at the Eleven Pines Apartments, eagerly anticipating a snowboarding trip they had planned for the day. Shortly after 1:30 a.m., a shooting erupted in a neighboring apartment. Multiple bullets pierced the walls, one of them striking and fatally wounding the sleeping teenager.
First responders rushed to the scene and transported him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Liam was remembered by his family and friends as a loving, funny, and genuine boy with a constant smile that could light up a room. An avid skateboarder and snowboarder, he was full of life and promise. His family, including his parents, William and Jessica, and his brothers, were left devastated by the senseless act of violence. The community mourned with them, holding vigils and establishing a GoFundMe to support the family through their unimaginable grief.
The investigation into Liam's death led Gresham police to identify three suspects: 21-year-old Anthony Hunter Jr., Xavier Hirs, and Terrell Koy. For months, the suspects remained at large, prompting a joint press conference by law enforcement to appeal to the public for information, with rewards offered for tips leading to their arrests. The community lived in fear that the suspects might harm another family.
In September 2025, a significant breakthrough came when Anthony Hunter Jr. was arrested in Northeast Portland. Liam's family expressed a sense of relief and a step toward justice, though their pain remained raw. As of late 2025, the other two suspects, Xavier Hirs and Terrell Koy, were still being sought by authorities. Liam's father and mother have pledged to attend all court proceedings, seeking accountability for the stray bullet that stole their son's future.
