Oregon Public Broadcasting

New details emerged Monday about Erik Ayala, the 24-year-old man suspected of shooting nine people and himself in downtown Portland Saturday night. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Police released a note, found at Ayala’s apartment. It doesn’t use the word suicide, but detectives say it indicates he didn’t plan to return home. 

The note provides his social security number and other financial details. It also gives his roommate his car, saying it’ll fetch about $2500.

Detective Mark Slater says police still want to know more about the gun used in the crime.

Mark Slater: “He doesn’t have a permit that we found. We don’t know where he got it yet, we’re waiting for results from ATF for gun tracing to see possibly where it was sold or purchased from. That’s something we need help from the public or friends of his to know where he got this gun.”

Ayala’s roommate and other people have told police that Ayala was depressed.

Detectives are checking his blood work for signs of medication or other drugs. But Sergeant Rich Austria says the shooting appears to have been a random act of senseless violence. 

Rich Austria: “What we do know is that this was not a targeted incident where he was looking at one individual at this point. Or that he was targeting these students as a result of their status here in the United States. We believe it was random and these victims just happen to be victims as a matter of being at this location at the wrong time.”

The 11 students were in the country as part of the Rotary Club's International Exchange program. They’d been here since about August and met for someone’s birthday.

They hail from Ecuador, Guatemala, Taiwan, France, Italy and there were local kids along that evening, too. 

Police Commissioner, Dan Saltzman, says the shock of this attack reaches well beyond Oregon.

Dan Saltzman: “It’s an international tragedy that has taken the lives of two bright young women. Ashley Wilks of Clackamas and Tika Paz De Neboa of Peru. Portlanders' thoughts and prayers are with Ashley and Tika’s friends and family. We are so very sorry for their loss. We as a city are also praying for the full recovery of the other seven victims.”

Police chief Rosie Sizer says the shooting ranks among Portland’s worst outbursts of violence. She praised her officers, many of whom say they’d never seen anything like it before.