In the early hours of July 17, 2022, a house party on East 11th Street in Vancouver, Washington, turned deadly, claiming the life of 19-year-old male Alexander Castagnoli. The gathering, which had swelled from a small group to over 70 people, was shattered by gunfire at approximately 1:20 a.m. following a verbal dispute. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Castagnoli deceased inside the residence from a gunshot wound to his torso.
The violence that erupted at the party also
resulted in the death of 18-year-old Amadou Keita of Portland, who was transported to a hospital but succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Two other young men, a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old, were also shot and sustained serious injuries but survived. The investigation into the double homicide soon pointed towards a possible connection to gang activity. Court documents revealed that a witness heard someone at the party ask, "Who's a Hoover?" just before the shots were fired. The Hoovers are a known gang in the Portland area.
Further investigation uncovered that one of the surviving victims was a member of the Six Deuce Crips, a rival gang to the Hoovers. Despite this lead, the investigation has been hampered by a lack of cooperation from witnesses. Many people present at the party have been reluctant to provide police with detailed information about the suspect or suspects.
As a result of the limited information and witness reluctance, no arrests have been made in connection with the murders of Alexander Castagnoli and Amadou Keita. The Vancouver Police Department's Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward. The tragic event has left the community shaken and the families of the victims seeking justice for their loved ones.
