Teen accused of ‘senseless’ murder in SE Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A suspect has been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting last month in Portland’s Mt. Scott-Arlet Neighborhood.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, 18-year-old Portland resident Adrian G. Garcia has been arrested and accused of homicide for the death of Hunter Hecker. Hecker’s family has been notified, police said.

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Garcia was arrested on Tuesday after “detectives assigned to the Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), served a search warrant at a home in the 6700 block of Southeast 86th Avenue,” police said in a release.

Garcia has been lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center and faces charges that include second-degree murder and unlawful weapon use.

The fatal shooting happened on June 27 near Southeast 82nd Avenue in the evening. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 11:44 p.m. and found the victim, later identified as Hecker, dead at the scene.

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A medical examiner later confirmed he died of “homicide by gunshot.”

According to a statement from Hecker’s family, via their attorney Chris Heywood, the shooting happened after Hecker “and his girlfriend went out to a local bar near their home.”

“Later that evening, Hunter was shot in front of the establishment in a senseless act of violence,” the statement said. “Hunter passed away in the arms of his girlfriend on the sidewalk.”

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Hecker was described by his family as a “gentle spirit” and heavily involved in Portland’s restaurant scene, having moved to the area from Princeton, New Jersey.

Anyone with additional information about the incident who has not yet spoken to authorities is encouraged to contact the police.

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