William "Liam" Spahnle-Bailey, 13, fatally shot in Gresham, Oregon

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Gresham Teen Killed by Stray Bullet; Second Suspect Arrested After 6 Months

GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) — A 13-year-old boy sleeping in his father's apartment was fatally struck by a stray bullet that pierced multiple walls during a shooting in a neighboring unit, authorities said, in a case that has drawn renewed attention with the arrest of a second suspect six months later.

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William "Liam" Spahnle-Bailey died April 27 after the gunfire erupted around 1:30 a.m. at the Eleven Pines apartment complex on Southwest 11th Street. The middle school student, who attended Rowe Middle School in the David Douglas district, was resting on an air mattress in the living room, preparing for a planned snowboarding outing with his father later that day. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Another person nearby suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the barrage.

The shooting stemmed from an altercation in an adjacent apartment, though investigators have not publicly detailed the circumstances. Bullets tore through the walls, striking Spahnle-Bailey without warning as he slept. His family, including father William Spahnle and older brother Gordon Mott-Bailey, described the boy as bright, humorous, creative and hardworking, with a passion for skateboarding and deep love for his family, brothers and girlfriend.

"Liam touched many people's lives," his mother, Jessica Bailey, said in the aftermath. Spahnle, wracked with grief, recounted tucking his son in that night, believing the space was safe. "I put my son to sleep ... thinking he'd be safe," he said. "I was wrong." Mott-Bailey called his brother "my best friend," mourning the future they would never share.

A memorial service on May 17 drew family and friends to a local church, where attendees shared stories of Spahnle-Bailey's joyful spirit amid waves of sorrow. "There wasn't a dry eye," one relative recalled, as speakers celebrated the teen's kindness and energy.

The investigation, led by the East County Major Crimes Team — comprising detectives from Gresham police, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and others — quickly identified three suspects: Anthony C. Hunter Jr., 21; Xavier Romello Hirsch, 20; and Terrell Coy, 17. All face charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon.

Hunter was arrested Sept. 9 in an undisclosed location. Hirsch, believed to have ties to Arizona and possible sightings in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Tucson areas, was apprehended Oct. 17 in Beaverton by U.S. Marshals, Beaverton police and Washington County sheriff's deputies. He was taken into custody at a local residence without incident. Coy remains at large, with authorities offering a $5,000 reward for tips leading to his arrest. A combined $15,000 reward had previously been posted for all three.

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vazquez hailed the arrests as a step toward justice, calling Spahnle-Bailey's death a "senseless act of violence" that shattered a promising young life. Gresham Police Assistant Chief Andrew Shearer vowed relentless pursuit: "We will not stop. We'll pursue every lead, exhaust every resource."

The family has no known connection to the suspects or the dispute. A GoFundMe for funeral expenses and support remains active, reflecting community outpouring. As the case proceeds, loved ones remember Spahnle-Bailey not for the tragedy, but for the light he brought to those around him.