Photo courtesy of Portland PD.
A 25-year-old woman became another victim of gun violence in Portland on May 12. Danae Williams was shot in her car after having dinner downtown with a friend. Williams died at the hospital on May 14. Her friend also received life-threatening injuries in the shooting but is expected to recover. His name has not yet been released.
Danae Williams’ great aunt, Laura Wiegman, told KGW8 News that Williams was hit by a bullet shot through the passenger window from another vehicle. Williams was seated in the driver’s seat. The shooting occurred around 9 p.m. in the Portland neighborhood of Woodlawn on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard near the 6800 NE block.
“She was downtown at a restaurant having dinner with a friend, and they came out of the restaurant, and, um, got in the car.” It was then that Williams and her male friend were shot. “The frustration is you think this can’t happen to my family and here it does, you know just a random act of violence…She’s the middle daughter so she leaves behind an older sister and a younger sister. It’s hard for both of them, losing their little sister, their big sister. But you gotta deal with it,” Wiegman said.
Williams is the city of Portland’s 31st homicide victim in 2021. There were four homicides in 2020.
Wiegman said that her great-niece worked with people with disabilities and wanted to be an EMT. She also said Williams was not involved with gangs and had no idea why anyone would kill the young woman. The police did not comment on a motive, and no information about the suspects has been released.
“Danae is not in any way, was never in any way involved in the gangs,” Wiegman said. “It’s still surreal, you know, and I really, I feel for her mom,” said Wiegman.
Several witnesses left the scene before the Portland PD could talk to them, and they are asking anyone with any information to contact Detective Brad Clifton at the Portland PD. Detectives are still investigating the shooting.