In the quiet community of Damascus, Oregon, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on July 12, 2023, claiming the life of 12-year-old Patrick "PJ" Landers Jr., a Caucasian male. The young boy was at his family's home when his brother-in-law, 34-year-old Ricochet Kerr, forcibly entered the residence. The events of that day were the culmination of a volatile domestic situation.
Kerr, who was the estranged husband of PJ's older sister, had a restraining order against him. Despite this, he drove his vehicle through a gate and crashed it into the garage of the Landers' home to gain entry. Once inside, the situation escalated with devastating consequences.
Tragically, Kerr shot and killed young PJ. He also killed two of the family's dogs. Following this violent outburst, Kerr then turned the gun on himself, ending his own life in a horrific murder-suicide. At the time of the incident, PJ's sister was not at the residence.
The boy's father, Patrick Landers Sr., received a text from his son that afternoon simply stating, "Dad uh come home rick's here." This would be the last communication he would ever have with his son. The father has since spoken out about the immense grief and frustration his family is experiencing, expressing that he believes the system failed to protect his son, as Kerr had reportedly made threats of self-harm in court just a day prior to the incident. Because the suspect took his own life, no arrests were made.
