Oregon Public Broadcasting

A memorial service is planned this weekend for a 20-year Irish citizen who was shot and killed by police in Silverton, Oregon.  Details about last week’s incident are sketchy, and the case is drawing international media attention. Correspondent Chris Lehman has more.

Silverton is a quaint tourist town on the edge of the Cascade foothills.  Shops and restaurants line the streets, and you can still put pennies in the parking meters.

It’s not the kind of place that gets talked about often on Irish radio programs.

Ariel Burton lights a candle at a memorial for her friend Andrew Hanlon.

Clip from Irish radio program:  “A 20 year-old Irish man has been shot dead in the town of Silverton in Oregon.  Andrew Hanlon from Dundrummond, Dublin was shot by police....”

Hanlon was shot late at night by Officer Tony Gonzalez, who responded to a report of a burglary.  Gonzalez has been put on paid leave while the incident is investigated.

The Irish media has covered the case extensively.  Police shootings there are rare.

In Silverton, friends of Hanlon have created a memorial of flowers and photos along the street where he was killed.

Ariel Burton says she can understand why so many people in Europe have turned their attention toward her hometown.

Ariel Burton:  “If the situation was reversed and something like this happened to an American citizen over there, we would want answers too.”

Burton stopped by the memorial to light a candle for Hanlon, who she called her best friend.

Ariel Burton:  “He loved everything.  And I don’t understand how in 30 seconds that he’s just gone. And how do you begin to deal with this.  What do you do when someone calls you and tells you at six in the morning that you’re best friend’s gone forever?”

Earlier Hanlon’s sister told the media that her brother was suffering from mental illness.    The family is now referring questions to an attorney.

Hanlon’s mother flew to Oregon and met with the local district attorney who’s handling the case.  The case could go to a grand jury within weeks.