Woman killed in Powellhurst-Gilbert shooting remembered as 'good person' with 'radiant smile'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Family and friends are mourning the loss of Portland resident LaToya Hill, the woman killed in a shooting in the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood earlier this week.

The suspect, 18-year-old Portland resident Kamari N. Gates, was also arrested for murder after turning himself in to Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct on Thursday, authorities said.

It's been a hard week for the family and friends of the 38-year-old Hill, as some of them spoke with KOIN 6 News saying she was a wonderful, fun-loving person.

"She has friends everywhere, and she's just one of those people that you gravitate towards because she's just got this big personality," said Nicole Harris, a friend of Hill's since middle school. "I'm, I'm sick. I, you know, it's just a heinous crime that I just can't comprehend why somebody would do that."

Harris said she and Hill bonded over basketball, with both of them taking up the sport at an early age and becoming sisters on the court.

"She has this radiant smile that just light up the room. and she's always just being silly, like, she's just fun to be around."

On Tuesday, a shelter-in-place order was in effect for several hours after law enforcement personnel responded around 8:35 a.m. to reports of a shooting near 5900 SE 136th Avenue.

At the site of the shooting, authorities found a woman — later identified as Hill — with life-threatening injuries. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. She died hours later, officials said.

Court documents show the suspect, Gates, allegedly went into the home where Hill was killed to "cause the death of another human being."

Friends and family said they hope justice is served as the investigation continues.

"She's just a good person. I just — I'm floored," Harris said.

Hill's partner, Danielle McGruder, told KOIN 6 they both knew the suspect. She said she and Hill were home at the time of the shooting. It is still unclear why Gates may have opened fire.  

On Thursday, Gates was booked into the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and faces charges that include second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Portland police.