On the night of June 27, 2024, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of 30-year-old Hunter Sutherland Lantz Hecker, a White male, in Portland, Oregon. Hecker and his girlfriend were near The Lion's Eye Tavern in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood when they observed a man assaulting a woman and chose to intervene. Their attempt to help took a tragic turn when the assailant attacked Hecker's girlfriend and then shot Hecker multiple times.
He collapsed on the sidewalk and died in his girlfriend's arms.
The fatal shooting occurred around 11:44 p.m. at the corner of Southeast 82nd Avenue and Southeast Knight Street. When police officers arrived at the scene following reports of a disturbance and gunfire, they found Hecker deceased. An investigation was immediately launched by the Portland Police Bureau's Homicide detectives. The medical examiner later confirmed that Hecker's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. He was remembered by his family as having a gentle spirit and a kind heart.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation led to a significant development. On July 16, 2024, detectives, with the assistance of the Special Emergency Reaction Team and Crisis Negotiation Team, arrested 18-year-old Adrian G. Garcia in connection with the shooting. Garcia was taken into custody and lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center. He faces charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities have not specified if Hecker and Garcia knew each other prior to the incident.
