Portland homicide victim remembered as ‘backbone of our family’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A homicide victim is being remembered in Portland as a loving brother, uncle and father as family members seek justice.

The Portland Police Bureau said 45-year-old Donny Calabaza was shot and killed in Southeast Portland’s Buckman Neighborhood over the weekend. The suspect is still at large.

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Police responded to the shooting on Sunday just after 10 p.m. near the intersection of Southeast Washington Street and Southeast 9th Avenue, with officers finding Donny dead at the scene.

Donny’s family said a long time passed after he was shot before someone found him. Now they’re hoping to find the person who pulled the trigger soon.

“It’s really difficult still,” said Donny’s sister, Dushonia Calabaza. “He’s a very important part of our family, you know, he was the backbone of our family.”

Donny’s friends and family remembered him as someone always willing to make them laugh and lend a helping hand.

Dushonia made the 12-hour drive from Salt Lake City to Portland after getting the call no one wants to receive.

“I’m just trying to be strong for my family and just trying to communicate information about everything that I’m doing here and just being able to respect our traditional ways as well,” Dushonia said.

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Donny grew up on the Navajo Reservation, his family said.

“We’ve been friends in the community since he came to Oregon,” said Stuart Crazybull, Donny’s best friend of 20 years. Stuart said Donny was always there for him.

“He got involved in Native community and started trying to connect and stuff you know with his spiritual beliefs and stuff. And so he’s been a part of the community ever since then,” Stuart said.

While police are still searching for the suspect, Dushonia is hopeful justice will prevail.

“I’m sure they’re going to find out what happened to him and who did this to him,” she said.

Friends and family said Donny’s service will be held at the Great Spirit United Methodist Church on Saturday at 5 p.m.

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Dushonia said he will be laid to rest at Mount Hood, where Donny will be able to go on his next journey into the spirit world.

There’s a GoFundMe available to help with funeral and travel costs.

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