In the early morning hours of April 4, 2022, the life of 19-year-old Amara Marluke, a vibrant and promising Portland State University student, was tragically cut short. Just after 1 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting near the university campus at Southwest College Street and Southwest 6th Avenue. Upon arrival, they found Ms. Marluke deceased at the scene.
The medical examiner later confirmed that she had died from gunshot wounds and ruled her death a homicide.
The investigation into the death of the female student quickly pointed to a suspect: 20-year-old Keenan Harpole, a fellow PSU student and a former running back on the university's football team. It was revealed that Ms. Marluke and Harpole had been in an on-again, off-again relationship that began in the summer of 2021. Friends and family described the relationship as having "destructive elements." The shooting was ultimately determined to be an act of domestic violence. Hours after the incident, Harpole turned himself in to authorities in Bend, Oregon, nearly 180 miles away, and was transported back to Portland. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
Amara Marluke was remembered as a passionate and engaged member of her community. She was a first-year student studying music and was the co-president of the Black Student Union at Portland State. Described as "an artist and an activist," she was a fierce advocate for Black lives and was known for her ability to bring people together. Her death was mourned by the university community, with the PSU president stating, "My heart breaks for Amara's family and for everyone who knew her." In April 2024, Keenan Harpole was sentenced to 23 years in prison after a negotiated plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree with a Firearm – Constituting Domestic Violence, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Constituting Domestic Violence.
