Deputies: Clackamas County man killed 4 family members
(Update: Gago arrested last August on weapons charge)
Authorities say a 42-year-old Clackamas County man killed four members of his family and was shot dead by sheriff’s deputies as he tried to kill a young girl.
The Clackamas County sheriff’s office on Sunday said Mark Gago killed his parents, his girlfriend and their infant daughter.
The Oregonian reports deputies arrived at the home late Saturday night.
Sgt. Brian Jensen says the homicide victims were not shot. Investigators found numerous weapons, including swords, and are trying to determine what was used to kill each person.
The sheriff’s office says the victims are 9-month-old Olivia Gago, 31-year-old Shaina Sweitzer, 66-year-old Jerry Bremer and 64-year-old Pamela Bremer.
Gago lived at the home off South Barlow Road near Woodburn, 20 miles south of Portland, with the victims.
Sweitzer’s 8-year-old daughter from a previous relationship survived. A female roommate also survived and is receiving treatment.
The sheriff’s office released a smiling 2018 booking photo of Gago, when he was arrested last August on a weapons charge.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Jensen told The Associated Press by email that Gago was booked on a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon. He did not have details on the disposition of the case or circumstances of the arrest,.though there was no criminal history listed in Oregon court records, except two fourth-degree assault charges that were dismissed, in 2001 and 2005.
KGW reports a neighbor who wants to remain anonymous said the woman who was one of two survivors ran to his house, bleeding, and told him Gago attacked her in her sleep with a weapon. She said she fought him off and escaped, and she thought he was high.
The station reports that court documents show Gago was scheduled to appear before a judge March 25 for failure to pay child support. Court documents showed his last payment was four years ago.
