On a tragic evening in downtown Portland, the life of 16-year-old Ashley Lauren Wilks, a vibrant and promising Caucasian female, was cut short. On January 24, 2009, a gunman opened fire outside a popular underage nightclub, forever altering the lives of many. Wilks, a student at Clackamas High School from Happy Valley, was among those struck by the gunfire.
She was a bright and curious student, enrolled in honors classes and a member of the swim team, with dreams of studying abroad in France or Spain.
The incident unfolded as a 24-year-old man, Erik Ayala, began shooting at people standing on the sidewalk. The attack appeared to be a random act of violence, as police found no connection between the shooter and his victims. In addition to Ashley, another young woman, 17-year-old Marta "Tika" Paz de Noboa, an exchange student from Peru, was also killed, and seven other people were injured. The scene was one of chaos and disbelief as the hip-hop music from inside the club was pierced by the sound of gunshots.
Following the shooting spree, the gunman, Erik Ayala, turned the gun on himself. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. A note left for his roommate expressed a farewell to his friend and his life, describing the world as "sh--ty." Ayala's roommate and family were reportedly blindsided by his actions, stating that he did not typically go to dance clubs and had never shown an interest in firearms. The devastating event left the community in shock and mourning for the young lives lost and injured.
