Portland Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Killing Neighbor and Attempted Murder

PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for killing his neighbor and attempting to kill her partner in a shooting in outer Southeast Portland in 2024.

Kamari Nathaniel Gates, now 20, was sentenced September 22, 2026, after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree attempted murder in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The case is filed under case number 24CR49102.

According to court records and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Gates was 18 when the shooting occurred on the morning of September 17, 2024. Gates and the victims lived a few houses apart in outer Southeast Portland.

A neighbor’s Ring camera captured Gates approaching the home of Latoya Hill and Danielle McGruder while carrying an assault rifle. Investigators said Gates fired multiple rounds at Hill as she was placing recycling into a container in front of her home.

Gates then continued past the driveway and fired additional rounds into the residence.

McGruder was inside the home at the time. She reported hearing the gunfire and looking outside, where she saw Gates firing multiple shots in her direction. The bullets missed McGruder.

One of the rounds fired at Hill struck her in the head, killing her.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Madeline Loeb prosecuted the case for the state.

“My heart goes out to all of the people who knew and loved Latoya Hill,” Loeb said following the sentencing. “Nothing that we do in this courthouse can undo this act of senseless violence or heal the harm it caused, but I hope that this resolution brings some closure.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office credited Portland Police Detective Michael Schmerber for his work investigating the case.

The office also recognized the work of Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office victim advocates, who provide support and assistance to victims connected to criminal cases.