2 days Ago
PORTLAND, Ore. — The mother of a man fatally stabbed at Sojourn Suites on March 21 describes her son as a "funny, generous and heartfelt person." Shannon Courtright, mother of 26-year-old Drew Hayden Courtright, recalled receiving the devastating news from her brother while at work.
"He said, 'You haven't heard from Jordynn?' And I go, 'Tell me she's okay,'" she recounted. "He said, 'Jordynn's fine, but Drew's dead, Shannon.' And man, man.
..I just know that I yelled.
I yelled for a long time." Portland police found Drew Courtright stabbed to death inside the hotel on Northeast Airport Way after responding to a report around 8 a.m.
Shannon said Drew was staying at the hotel with his girlfriend when suspects knocked on their door. His girlfriend told Shannon she tried to save him but couldn't. "He was knocking on doors, looking for a laptop or something, and Drew told him, we don't have.
...
I wish he wouldn't have answered the door," Shannon said, referring to the suspect. Authorities arrested 42-year-old Mitch Bryan Schoonover on March 25. He faces charges of first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and third-degree assault.
Schoonover has a previous conviction for first-degree manslaughter from 2006. Court documents mention a second suspect participating in the assault, but that person's whereabouts remain unclear. Shannon Courtright said her family visited the scene, noting evidence of a violent struggle.
"We went up into the elevator to the second floor and found the exact spot where Drew died and prayed over it, and you can tell by the busted door frames and the walls. He gave it to him that day. He fought hard for his life," Shannon said.
While Drew had a criminal record, his mother emphasized he wasn't violent. "I'm not proud that he had a record also, but he didn't have a violent record, and he certainly couldn't kill people, and he didn't want to hurt people," she said. "I would just ask that before the community hides behind their laptops and computers and says hurtful, hateful things, to keep in mind that they probably have loved ones too, that maybe haven't made a lot of great decisions or choices, but they don't deserve to die for it, especially like that," Shannon added.
Drew's sister mentioned he had struggled with addiction before serving prison time, but had changed after his release and was working to improve his life. Drew, who has a twin brother and a sister, also had an older brother who died in 2021. His memorial service will be held on Mother's Day, May 11.
The family has established a GoFundMe to help with burial expenses..
