Campus Alert Archive
PSU

PSU Student Shot and Killed Near Dorm by Former Football Player in Domestic Violence Attack

ORshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On April 4, 2022, at approximately 1:00 AM PDT, 19-year-old Portland State University student Amara Marluke was fatally shot near her dormitory at the intersection of SW College Street and SW 6th Avenue. The suspect, 20-year-old former PSU football player Keenan Harpole, turned himself in to authorities in Bend, Oregon later that day. He was initially charged with second-degree murder and was later sentenced to 23 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter constituting domestic violence.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
0
Institution
Portland State University
Public R2 · OR
~22,000 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction142 chars
PSU ALERT: Shooting reported near SW 6th and College. Avoid the area. Police are on scene investigating. There is no ongoing threat to campus.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from PSU's official campus communications and media reports
Portland Police Bureau responded to the scene after receiving reports of the shooting
PSU determined there was no ongoing threat because the suspect had fled the area
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction321 chars
The Portland State community is mourning the loss of a student following a shooting near campus early this morning. The suspect, a PSU student, has been taken into custody in Bend, Oregon. There is no ongoing threat to campus. Counseling services are available through the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC).

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from PSU's official website statement and multiple media reports
Harpole surrendered to Deschutes County authorities in Bend, approximately 160 miles from Portland
PSU President Stephen Percy issued a campus-wide message expressing condolences
Context

Background

On April 4, 2022, 19-year-old Amara Marluke, a student in PSU's Sonic Arts and Music Production program, was fatally shot near her dormitory at approximately 1:00 AM. The shooting occurred at a neighboring business near SW 6th Avenue and College Street, adjacent to PSU's downtown Portland campus. Marluke was known as a passionate artist and activist. The suspect, 20-year-old Keenan Reece Harpole, was a current PSU student and former football player who had previously played at Mountain View High School in Bend, Oregon. Harpole fled to Bend after the shooting and turned himself in to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office later that day. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office initially charged Harpole with second-degree murder. He ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter constituting domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The case highlighted the ongoing challenge of domestic violence affecting college campuses and the difficulty of preventing targeted violence even in well-monitored urban campus environments.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooting was a domestic violence incident between two PSU students, not a random attack
The suspect fled approximately 160 miles to his hometown before surrendering, demonstrating how perpetrators may leave the immediate area quickly
PSU determined there was no ongoing campus threat relatively quickly, allowing for a focused law enforcement response
Outcome
Amara Marluke was pronounced dead at the scene. Keenan Harpole turned himself in to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office in Bend, approximately 160 miles from Portland, and was charged with murder. He later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter constituting domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon, receiving a 23-year prison sentence.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Portland State University student surrenders in fatal shooting of fellow student (OPB)
    opb.org
  2. Official
    Update on tragic shooting: A very sad day for Portland State (PSU News)
    pdx.edu
  3. Official
    Keenan Harpole Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for 2022 Domestic Violence Homicide (Multnomah County DA)
    mcda.us
  4. News
    Deputies in Bend arrest PSU student suspected in early morning deadly shooting near campus (KATU)
    katu.com
  5. News
    Portland State University student killed in shooting (KGW)
    kgw.com
Tags
shootingdomestic-violencestudent-killedstudent-perpetratororegonpublic-r2near-campus
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion