In the early morning hours of March 17, 2006, the life of 24-year-old Soupaphane Homsombath was tragically cut short in a violent encounter inside her northeast Portland apartment. The female victim was discovered deceased on her couch, having been shot. The scene that unfolded for law enforcement was one of profound horror, as Soupaphane was not the only victim of the brutal attack.
Her two young children were also found deceased within the apartment.
Her 8-year-old son, Lionel Homsombath, had been shot twice in the head as he lay in the living room. In a bedroom, her 5-year-old daughter, Leana Homsombath, was found to have been stabbed to death. The devastating event was determined by police to be a triple murder and suicide.
The person responsible for the deaths of Soupaphane and her children was identified as 31-year-old Somkhith Soulinho, who was described as her boyfriend and former brother-in-law. After killing the family, Soulinho took his own life. Investigators believe the motive was related to domestic issues. Witnesses in the apartment building reported hearing several gunshots at approximately 5:30 a.m., leading to the discovery of the scene after the landlord unlocked the apartment for police.
Soulinho had a known history of violence. He had previously served five years in prison for shooting his older brother, Tia Soulinho, in the arm in 1999. He had also spent time in the Oregon State Hospital for mental health issues. Family and friends suggested that drugs may have played a role in the tragic events. Tia Soulinho, who lost his ex-wife, his children, and his brother in the incident, expressed his profound pain and disbelief, noting that while he had a cordial relationship with his younger brother, many people were fearful of him.
