Portland Police Identify Homicide Victim As 33-Year-Old Jessica Drain

PORTLAND, OR —Portland Police say that the woman shot and killed Thursday night by the Burnside Bridge was 33-year-old Jessica Drain. She had been shot once in the head.

Drain was one of three people shot and killed downtown during a four-day period over the weekend.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Drain is one of 29 people killed in Portland this year, which puts the city ahead of the pace last year when the city set a new record for the number of homicides.

The Oregonian featured Drain in a January story about people trying to transition off the streets and into housing.

The paper told how Drain was born in New Mexico, spent 18 years in the Utah foster care system and, while in foster care, was introduced to methamphetamines. That became a demon that she fought for many years, according to the paper.

The Oregonian wrote that Drain had been diagnosed with a brain tumor but didn't want to get an operation until she knew that she would gave a safe place to go afterward.

The paper said that a week before she was killed, Drain had been seen starting to pack up her stuff and plan to move to be closer to family.

Police ask that anyone with information the homicide contact Detective Jeff Sharpe at jeff.sharp@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-9773 or Detective Michael Jones at Michael.jones@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0418.