PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon Department of Corrections officer is dead after shooting and killing his teenage daughter before turning the gun on himself on Wednesday morning.
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 9:51 a.m. Wednesday on a request for a welfare check for one of the residents at Baseline Woods Apartments in an unincorporated part of Washington County.
Deputies found the two bodies inside an apartment, identified as Nicholas Alexander and his 16-year-old daughter, Larissa Alexander.
Nicholas worked as a corrections officer for eight years before being placed on administrative leave recently. Officials also said he was arrested for DUII on Monday.
Larissa was a junior at Century High School in Hillsboro. The school released a statement to families on Thursday morning, saying in part, "This is a terrible tragedy and our hearts are heavy."
KOIN 6 News confirmed with the Oregon Department of Corrections that Nicholas worked for the state penitentiary in 2015 before moving to the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility the following year. He was placed on administrative leave in October.
Washington County Sheriff's Deputy David Huey told KOIN 6 News that it is "extremely rare" to encounter situations like this.
"This is the first one of these that I've encountered," Huey said. "I think that's the first time that we've been to that apartment that I'm aware of. Aside from and maybe some other police interactions that, the father has had in other instances."
Huey explained that while welfare checks are "pretty routine," the investigation turned into some much more "horrific."
"I mean really, shocks the conscience is the word that I've been thinking about to describe it," Huey said. "It's one of those calls that sticks with you that I'm not going to forget."
A neighbor named CJ told KOIN 6 News it's normally a "nice" neighborhood and fairly new.
"I knew something was up but I don't know what was going on. And then when I came back and would walk my dogs over here, their forensic team was over here. I was like, 'Oh man, something major must've happened," CJ said.
The investigation is ongoing. Detectives said they're still trying to determine a motive. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available through 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.
