Two weeks after 17-year-old Eskender Tamra and two others were shot and killed in North Portland, Eskender’s family put him to rest at Rose City Cemetery.
And at his funeral earlier Sunday, at Kidane Mihret Ethiopian Orthodox Church, some people close to him worried that the facts of his death may be buried with him.
“We’re not sure what happened or why,” said Eskender’s sister, who asked not to be identified out of fear for her safety. “He wasn’t involved in anything that we know of.”
Eskender was traveling with 19-year-old Babu Daudi and 20-year-old Patrick Johnson Jr. when their car was shot multiple times by three people on the sidewalk of North Foss Avenue near University Park on March 25.
Doorbell footage shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive shows three people on foot who appear to fire repeatedly on the light-colored sedan where their bodies were found.
Family and friends said they aren’t sure why Eskender was with the other victims, and they said they had no reason to believe anyone would want to harm him.
Hundreds gathered at the Rockwood church to pay their respects on Easter Sunday. Around 100 people stood under dark storm clouds a few hours later, pelted by rain, as they mourned at the burial. Wails and sobs from the family cut through the otherwise silent crowd.
Eskender immigrated to Oregon from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with his older sister to pursue better educational opportunities. Their mother had moved to Portland in 2009, and they were reunited in 2016. He was a junior at Franklin High School in Southeast Portland.
“I grew up with him, and I’m just so sad because I don’t remember life without him,” his sister said.
He worked two jobs, picking up shifts at a Fred Meyer and a Taco Bell while managing his school work. He was supposed to be going from one job to another when he was shot, his sister said.
Friends described him as motivated, outgoing and “genuinely kind.”
Eskender enjoyed playing basketball with friends, cheering on the Portland Trail Blazers and playing video games in his spare time, his family said.
“Eskender always had a smile on his face and loved being around his friends and family,” the family said in a statement.
Before his death, Eskender showed an interest in studying business in college, his sister said.
His family is still unsure what led to the shooting, and is asking anyone with information to contact police. Police have announced no arrests.
“We would like to make a plea to the greater Portland area,” one of Tamra’s cousins, who also asked to not be identified for her safety, said. “If you do have any information, anything you saw, please come forward.”
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0889 or Detective William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0466, referencing case number 23-77440.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
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