11/06/09 Redmond

UPDATE:

From the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office:

Oregon Law provides: 

ORS 161.205(5) A person may use physical force upon another person in self defense or in defending a third person

ORS 161.209 a person is justified in using physical force upon another person for self defense or to defend a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use of imminent use of unlawful physical force, and the person may use a degree of force which the person reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose

ORS 161.219 a person is justified in using deadly physical force against another only if the person reasonably believes the other person is:

• 1) committing or attempting to commit a felony involving the use or threatened use of physical force against a person,
• 2) committing or attempting to commit a burglary in a dwelling,
• 3) using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force against a person

At this point in the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest the fatal shooting of Patrick Hankins was not justified. 

At the time the fatal shooting occurred, a valid Restraining Order to Prevent Abuse was in existence, prohibiting Patrick Hankins from contacting Karen Hankins and prohibiting him from going to her residence. 

Evidence uncovered during the investigation shows Patrick Hankins was in the course of committing a burglary, unlawfully breaking into Karen Hankins' residence, at the time he was fatally shot.  The evidence also shows the defendant was armed with a weapon and in the process of causing or attempting to cause physical injury to Karen Hankins.  Karen Hankins has stated she shot Patrick Hankins to protect her children's lives and her own. 

Further information will be provided when the investigation is completed.  It could take several months for the investigation to be completed and all reports written.

Kandy K. Gies

Deputy District Attorney

11/5/09

By Rachel Azevedo

It started with yelling and glass breaking near the back door of a house on Quince and 37th Street in Redmond around 11:00pm Wednesday. A neighbor witnessed it from her front porch.

"He had something in his hands and he was continuously throwing things at the back of the house and all I could hear was glass breaking," said Melanie Bruguier.

41-year-old Patrick Shane Hankins entered the house of his ex-wife. Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies say the woman immediately called 9-1-1 and sent their two children, ages 8 and 12, into another room.

"There was a loud bang. I wasn't sure if it was a gun shot, but i was almost positive that it was," said Bruguier.

Deputies say the woman shot Hankins and he died at the scene. She and her two children then ran to a neighbor's house. A relative tells KOHD News that Hankins had a history of mental illness and drinking problems.

"He's a great guy, would give you the shirt off his back, but he had a tendency to drink occasionally and when he did, it made him a different person. He would get mean," said Dennis Gant.

Gant says the weapon Hankins had was possibly an antlers from an animal. The couple had been divorced for less than three months. The woman had a protective restraining order against Hankins. Neighbors are rattled by the violence.

"I can't believe it. My kids play around here so it's amazing that it happened so close," said Jessica Imler.

Relatives say the family is coping.

"They're sad their daddy's gone. It about tore my heart out when [the son] said I love Daddy but I'm not afraid anymore," said Gant.