West

Portland is experiencing a murder boom and The Oregonian has profiled the city’s 15th murder victim, 25-year-old Curtis Smith of Fresno, Calif., who was visiting for a funeral.

Mystery surrounds the death of Smith, who was shot in February. Along with his fatal shooting, the homicide toll in Portland stands at 69 people, just one death short of the city’s record in 1987, when 70 people died.

Smith told his mom he was coming to Portland to attend the funeral of a friend, but she told the news organization she’s not entirely sure if that’s true. The police department would not comment on whether there were any new leads in the case.

Growing up, Smith was a person who felt drawn to young people who were troubled, his mother, Promise Marks, said. “My house became the kid-friendly house where he’d bring his friends,” she said. “He was just a love muffin.”

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