PORTLAND, Ore. — It has been over 40 days since Asher Mendes was shot and killed at Sellwood Riverfront Park. His mother says he had expressed concerns about feeling threatened in the weeks leading up to his death.
Louise Rodriguez gave birth to her son Asher Mendes in Hawaii in 2003. She recalls his early years, saying, “Respectful to each other, you learn that from a young age. Caring, I mean, the word 'aloha' — that’s what it was like there.”
The family moved to Portland when Asher was in fifth grade. Rodriguez said that was when his life began to change: “He eventually kind of got into a group that wasn’t the best choice in friends.”
By age 20, Mendes decided to start a family. He and the mother of his child struggled with homelessness. After finding an apartment, his ex-girlfriend left one night with their son.
“And he woke up and they were gone," Rodriquez said. "That was in May. He hadn’t been able to see the baby since. He tried and tried. He was heartbroken.”
Mendes coped with the pain by frequently being out with his friends.
“He said, ‘I am thinking about the baby. I’m just having such a hard time dealing with all of this,’” Rodriguez said.
On July 12, Mendes attended a party at Sellwood Riverfront Park, where he was shot and killed. Detectives believe many people were in the area at the time of the shooting and left without speaking to officers.
Rodriguez expressed her anguish, saying, “Felt like at one point that my heart was literally breaking down the middle, like I just felt it pulling apart. Just devastated.”
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise reward money in hopes of encouraging people to come forward with information.
More Than A Number aims to help give a face and a voice to victims and families impacted by tragedies. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a homicide and would like to share your story, you can reach out to us by sending an email to morethananumber@kgw.com.