Bend man’s friends hold race in his memory

Nine days after Tyler Keinonen was shot and killed by Bend police Officer Erick Supplee, Keinonen’s friends and family remembered him Sunday, the best way they knew how.

Those who knew Keinonen best saidhe loved to race RC (radio-controlled) cars, so Sunday marked the first annual Tyler Keinonen Cup race.

Todd Neal, the main organizer of the race, said he knew Keinonen for 10 years. We spoke with him about what he’ll remember most about his friend.

“I’d like to remember him as a father, a hard worker — if there was ever work to be done Tyler was right there giving a hand,” Neal said. “He might have been caught up in some issues lately, but that wasn’t really him, deep down inside.”

The race is something they plan to do annually around this time, to remember their friend.