Kara Ewing

Kara Ewing, a 25-year-old White mother from Cherry Grove, Oregon, was at her boyfriend’s home in a quiet, unincorporated area of Hillsboro on the evening of June 19, 2020. Her boyfriend, James Griffith, was outside planting flowers with a friend when a woman he barely knew, Lisa Akers, ambushed him. Akers shot Griffith multiple times, leaving him severely wounded. She then entered the residence where she found and fatally shot Kara Ewing.

Despite his own life-threatening injuries, Griffith made his way inside the house and found Ewing lying on the floor. He held her as she told him she couldn't breathe, and she died in his arms. Authorities said Akers also attempted to shoot another woman inside the home, but her gun was empty. After reloading, she confronted another friend, but the weapon jammed. When Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived, they found Ewing deceased. Griffith was airlifted to a hospital, where he was expected to survive.

The shooter, Lisa Akers, who had reportedly been living with Ewing for a short time, fled the scene in a vehicle. Law enforcement located and apprehended her in Grant County, Oregon, early the next morning. She was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

Kara Ewing, who left behind a two-year-old son, was remembered as a beautiful soul by her family. "Why did she have to lose her life? She didn't deserve this," her cousin Heather said. "We'll never get to hug her again, kiss her again, tell her we love her. That was taken from us and taken from her son."

Lisa Ann Akers was charged with the murder of Kara Ewing and the attempted murders of several other people. During her trial in February 2022, a mistrial was declared after her defense team raised concerns about her mental fitness to proceed. Akers was sent to the Oregon State Hospital for an evaluation and was subsequently deemed unfit to stand trial. As of May 2023, she remained committed to the state hospital while prosecutors opposed her discharge, citing concerns about her mental health and the risk she might pose if released. The charges against her remain pending.