Slain Portland stepdad 'raised us, was always there for us'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Symone Cooper is devastated at the loss of her stepfather, Mark Holley, who was gunned down in Portland's Wilkes neighborhood early Monday night.

"He helped raise us. He was always there for us. He was just a call away," Cooper said in a Zoom from her home in Ohio as she wiped away tears. "He's genuine. He's kind. He's a really good soul. And his life was taken way too early."

Holley, 35, was killed around 5:46 p.m. Monday near 15900 block of NE Fremont Street. He had already died by the time officers arrived at the scene.

"He showed up to every award event for my sister. He made sure she made honor roll, was taking care of all of the time. She was destroyed (by his death)," she said. "To lose him from our world, who are we going to call for major events or when we need help?"

The case remains open and active. No one has been arrested at this time and Cooper told KOIN 6 News Portland police detectives told her not to share details of the shooting.

But she did say, "This seems like the person that did this obviously didn't have a respect for human life or law enforcement."

GoFundMe: Bring Mark Holley home

She's pleading with anyone who has information to contact the police.

"He was someone's dad. He was someone's brother. He was someone's cousin. He was someone's nephew. He was someone's friend. And what if you know one of theirs? This happened to one of theirs. One of their people. Wouldn't you want justice?" she said.

She wants the killer identified and arrested.

"I hope he gets caught. I hope he goes to jail."