PORTLAND, Ore — A domestic-related incident in Southeast Portland turned into a tense, hours-long standoff on Sunday evening, ending with the arrest of 20-year-old Leonel Macias and the discovery of a woman dead inside the home.
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officers were dispatched at around 6:30 p.m. to the area of Southeast 170th Avenue and Southeast Division Street for a welfare check. The call came after a man phoned 911 claiming that a woman inside the residence was dead.
When officers arrived, they determined a man was barricaded inside the home and “likely armed.” Due to the potentially dangerous situation, PPB called in tactical units and crisis negotiation teams to assist.
Shortly after securing the perimeter, tactical officers breached the front door and located the body of a woman inside. She was later identified as 21-year-old Kimberly Venegas-Gonzalez of Portland. Police said the woman was removed from the home, but the suspect remained barricaded for several more hours.
Negotiators worked to convince the man to surrender, but he continued to refuse commands. Finally, shortly before 9 p.m., the man exited the home and was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation before being booked into the Multnomah County Jail.
Investigators with PPB’s Homicide Unit determined Venegas-Gonzalez died from a gunshot wound, according to the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Leonel Macias of Portland. He now faces charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
Officers also seized a firearm from the home during the investigation. Authorities have not released details on the relationship between Macias and Venegas-Gonzalez, though the incident is believed to be domestic in nature.
Venegas-Gonzalez’s family has been notified and has requested privacy as they grieve the sudden loss of their loved one. Friends and relatives described her as a kind, loving young woman whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.
PPB officials emphasized that incidents involving barricaded, armed suspects require careful coordination to protect the lives of everyone involved — including officers, bystanders, and the suspect. The standoff lasted for nearly three hours, with a significant law enforcement presence in the area.
The homicide investigation remains active. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case, including potential witnesses or individuals who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the hours before the shooting, to contact the Portland Police Bureau.
This killing marks yet another homicide in Portland in 2025, adding to community concerns about ongoing gun violence and domestic-related tragedies in the city.
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