Happy Valley triple homicide suspect dies at Oregon coast motel

Three people were shot and killed inside a Happy Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The suspect in the killings, 45-year-old Edward Villa, was found dead at an Oregon coast motel the following day, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).

Deputies discovered the victims during a welfare check at a home in the 13000 block of Southeast Highpointe Street after 12:30 p.m. Oct. 20, according to the sheriff's office. They had responded to a report about a missing person.

The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled all three deaths homicides caused by gunshot wounds after conducting autopsies Oct. 21.

Detectives from the Happy Valley Police Department and the sheriff's office developed information indicating the suspect may have traveled to the Warrenton area. Investigators found Villa dead at a motel in Hammond, a small community near Warrenton, on Oct. 21. The sheriff's office did not disclose how he died.

Oregon State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, Warrenton Police Department and Clatsop County Sheriff's Office assisted in locating Villa, according to CCSO.

KOIN 6 News reported, citing law enforcement sources, that the victims were two adults and one teenager. Their names have not been released. The sheriff's office said it was withholding identities pending family notifications.

North Clackamas School District spokesperson Curtis Long told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Villa was a student and community engagement specialist for the district. The district said in a statement that law enforcement told officials there was no threat to schools or facilities.

Neighbor Dominique Tuon, who has lived in the neighborhood since 2019, told KOIN he came home from work Oct. 20 to find law enforcement vehicles at the house. "I'm really, really shocked … I see them almost every day," Tuon said.

Happy Valley, Estacada and Wilsonville contract with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for police services. The sheriff's office said it expected to release additional information, including the victims' identities after completing family notifications.