Oregon Public Broadcasting

Someone opened fire in a Tualatin drug-testing clinic Tuesday, -- police say two are dead, and two more are hospitalized.

Kristian Foden-Vencil has been down to the scene and joins us live in the studio.

Good afternoon.Kristian Foden-Vencil: HiBeth Hyams: So what do you know about what happened?Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well, at about 11:45 this morning police got a call about shots being fired at Legacy Health Systems medical lab in Tualatin. Portlanders may know the area. It's just south of the large Fred Meyers in Tualatin -- just off the I-5.Tualatin Police Chief, Kent Barker, says officers were on the scene within two minutes.

Apparently it was a hectic scene with people running all over the place because they didn't know where the gunshots were coming from.

Kent Barker: "Officers entered building...and two other victims transported to the hospital."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: One victim was taken to OHSU via a lifeflight helicopter. The other was driven in an ambulance to Emmanuel Hospital. There's no word right now on their conditions.

Beth Hyams: So what's happening now?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well Tualatin Fire and Rescue, Lake Oswego Fire and police officers from Hillsboro, Tigard and King City all helped secure the scene. It's now cordoned off for a block or two in each direction with yellow crime tape. Barker says Washington County Major Crime Scene is leading the investigation.

Kristian Foden-Vencil:The identity of the suspect has yet to be released, as is his relationship -- if any -- to the victims. Details about what happened and why are still few. For example, Barker was asked if all the victims were people who worked in the office.

Alina Kartavenka

Kent Barker: "That I don't know either......we don't know where she came from."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Alina Kartavenka works at that Subway store. She told me that a man brought a woman dressed in a white laboratory coat into the store. That woman was covered in blood.

Alina Kartavenka: "He asked us for some paper towel...took her to the hospital."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Kartavenka says to have something so horrible just down the street is very unsettling.

Alina Kartavenka: "I'm scared but I'll be fine."

Beth Hyams: So what do we know about the clinic where this happened?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well, what I understand is that it's like a shop front where people go to give a blood sample. You'd go there if your employer asked for a drug check, or if your physician wanted to check your cholestorol level. 

Brian Terrett is the director of public relations for Legacy Health.

Brian Terrett: "Our hearts and sympathy goes out ... wait and see what their investigation determines."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Police have said that they'll be releasing more details as their investigation continues.

Beth Hyams: Thank you Kristian.