UPDATE: KEENAN HARPOLE SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS IN PRISON FOR 2022 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE

Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge sentenced Keenan Reece Harpole, 22, to 23 years in prison for the 2022 fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Portland State University student Amara Marluke.

Incident

On Monday, April 4, 2022, at 1:00 a.m., Portland Police officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting near Southwest College Street and Southwest 6th Avenue near PSU. When officers arrived they located an adult female who was deceased; she was later identified as Amara Marluke, 19. The Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined Marluke died from gunshot wounds and ruled her death a homicide.

Through a law enforcement investigation, the suspect was identified as Keenan Harpole – Marluke’s boyfriend and a fellow PSU student. Police located Harpole in Bend, and members of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office arrested and transported him back to Portland, where he was released to Portland Police Bureau Homicide Detectives. He was lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Plea & Sentencing

Deputy District Attorney Devin Franklin represented the state in this case, which resulted in a negotiated plea agreement with the defendant and his counsel. Judge Christopher Marshall accepted the plea and sentenced Harpole on April 15, 2024 as follows:

• 240 months for one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree with a Firearm - Constituting Domestic Violence
• 36 months consecutive for one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon - Constituting Domestic Violence

Additionally, Harpole will serve two years of post-prison supervision. He is currently in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections where he is serving his sentence.

The DA’s Office wishes to thank the Portland Police Bureau officers and detectives who assisted with this case, as well as the victim advocate who supported Ms. Marluke’s family. It is hoped that the resolution of this case will allow Ms. Marluke’s family and friends to move forward in the grieving process and find some peace. 

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