I condemn Erik Ayala

It’s not often that I find myself living literally in the backyard of the nation’s most tragic shooting incident. Last Saturday in Portland, Erik Ayala, 24, took out an Italian-made Tanfoglio 9mm pistol and open fired on a group of mostly high school exchange students. The shots killed two, a 16 year-old local girl and a 17 year-old exchange student, and wounded seven others, two critically. After firing nine rounds, Erik put the gun to his head and shot himself. Erik is listed in critical condition.

This incident strikes close to home. I’ve eaten at the restaurant where just outside, Erik started shooting and attempted suicide. My house sits in the same school district attended by six of the victims. As a young person, I used to go to that night club, though it had a different name back then (the name escapes me at the moment). I’ve walked that same area multiple times on a Saturday night and would’ve never thought that a shooting could occur there. Read more