In the early morning hours of July 17, 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the downtown Portland, Oregon, atmosphere, tragically ending the life of 18-year-old Makayla Maree Harris. A recent graduate of Grant High School, Makayla was with friends near a food cart area in the 300 block of Southwest 3rd Avenue when the shooting occurred at approximately 2:10 a.m. She was one of seven people struck by bullets in what authorities believe was a drive-by shooting.
After being critically injured, Makayla was rushed to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The medical examiner later confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound, ruling her death a homicide.
Investigators believe that Makayla was an innocent bystander, an unintended target in what they suspect was a gang-related shooting. It is thought that the shooters fired from a vehicle into the crowd before speeding away. Another individual in the crowd, believed to have gang affiliations, was the intended target but was not hit. Despite the chaos, the six other victims of the shooting sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Makayla Maree Harris, and no suspect information has been publicly released. The investigation remains active, with law enforcement officials believing that numerous potential witnesses fled the scene without speaking to the police. In an effort to generate new leads, the FBI has offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for her death. This is in addition to a $2,500 reward offered by Crime Stoppers of Oregon. Makayla's family remembers her as a loving daughter and a great baby sister to her six siblings, with a contagious smile and a kind heart. Her mother has made public pleas for anyone with information to come forward to bring justice for her daughter.
