On April 12, 2017, a tragic incident unfolded in Portland, Oregon, involving 11-year-old Jasmine Duran-Cortinas and her 8-year-old sister, Janet. Their father, 42-year-old Jaime Cortinas, fatally shot both daughters multiple times before taking his own life. The sequence of events began when the girls' mother contacted authorities around 12:30 a.m., reporting that Jaime had taken their daughters and was threatening to kill them and himself.
Law enforcement agencies promptly initiated a search for Jaime's black Range Rover SUV. Approximately an hour later, Gresham police officers located the vehicle in a parking lot near NE 162nd Avenue and Glisan Street. As Officer Matt Anderson approached, Jaime fired a. 32-caliber handgun at him and ignited a fire inside the SUV. In response, Officer Anderson discharged his weapon, striking Jaime multiple times; however, these injuries were not fatal. Jaime ultimately died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Tragically, when officers managed to access the burning vehicle, they discovered that both Jasmine and Janet had already succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by their father. Despite the officers' immediate rescue efforts, it was too late to save the girls. Several officers sustained minor injuries, including strains, burns, and smoke inhalation, during the rescue attempt.
The community was left in shock and mourning following the incident. Friends and neighbors remembered Jasmine and Janet as diligent students who were deeply missed by their peers and teachers at Glenfair Elementary School. Memorials with candles and toys were set up outside their apartment complex to honor their memory.
This heartbreaking event underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and the importance of community awareness and intervention in such situations.
