Portland, OR. – Multnomah County Judge Nan Waller has ordered a lifetime commitment to the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) and a concurrent 22-year prison sentence for Tamena Jaceeta Strickland, 37, following her conviction in the 2019 shooting that killed her younger brother and injured two family members.
Strickland was found guilty except for insanity of Murder in the Second Degree and guilty on two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree during an October 24 stipulated-facts trial and change of plea. Judge Waller delivered the final judgment on November 12.
Under the sentence, Strickland will remain under PSRB jurisdiction for life. If PSRB officials determine her mental health no longer requires hospital-level care during the 22-year custodial term, she will serve the remainder of that time in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero, who prosecuted the case, said the outcome reflects the need for accountability, community safety, and recognition of the role of mental illness.
“Our hearts remain with Deante’s family, his friends and the broader Portland State University and Central Catholic High School communities,” Marrero said. “Deante was more than an athlete—he was a bright and promising young man whose life was tragically taken far too early… This resolution reflects a careful balance of accountability, public safety and a clear acknowledgment of the devastating role that mental illness played in this case.”
The case stems from the August 2, 2019 shooting in which Strickland killed her 22-year-old brother, Deante Strickland, and wounded both her grandmother and aunt, who share the name Shirley Strickland. After briefly fleeing the scene, Strickland turned herself in to Portland Police later that evening with her attorney. Investigators recovered the firearm and related evidence.
The shooting deeply affected the Portland State University community, where Deante—an athlete known for his work ethic and humility—had been widely admired. His death prompted vigils, memorials, and tributes from teammates, coaches, and loved ones.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude to the Portland Police Bureau for its thorough investigative work.
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