When Rotary International District 5100 held its convention in Pendleton last spring, one of the highlights of the event was the appearance of dozens of exchange students whose colorful presentations and youthful enthusiasm sparked the gathering.

Their visit was a reminder the purpose of Rotary International youth exchange programs is to foster peace, goodwill and understanding around the world.

Perhaps that makes it even more difficult to comprehend the tragic death of a 17-year old Peruvian exchange student who was gunned down Saturday night on the streets of Portland.

Portland police have confirmed the student was Martha Paz de Noboa of Arequipa, Peru who was living in White Salmon, Wash., during her visit to the United States. A second victim, 16-year old Ashley Wilks, a sophomore at Clackamas High School, was slated to spend a year in France as a Rotary exchange student there.

The two young people were attending a birthday party when Erik Salvadore Ayala fired into a crowd outside of The Zone, an under-21 nightclub.

The gunman wounded seven others, including four exchange students, before shooting himself in the head. This morning he was listed in critical condition.

The injured exchange students are from Ecuador, France, Guatemala and Taiwan. It’s quite possible some or all of the five exchange students were among the group who came to Pendleton in April.

We empathize with these young people, with the families who are their hosts in this country and with the families from abroad who have now come here to help pick up the pieces of their children’s lives.