Ethan “Birdman” Murray
April 28, 1994 - May 4, 2019
Ethan’s Story
“Birdman” April 28, 1994 - May 4, 2019
Ethan Murray was my son, a curious and bright boy who loved learning new things and reading books, even from an early age. This love of learning spilled into everything he did, even into funny things like memorizing all of his states and capitals (his kindergarten teacher was impressed).
Ethan had a love of the outdoors, with trees, lakes, and waterfalls helping shape his life as a child. Later on, these same wild spaces would be his place for solitude; a peace that we’d escape to together. Ethan, his dad Quinn, sister Cora, and I would spend long weekends camping, hiking, chasing waterfalls & canoeing, with Ethan and Cora becoming an exploring duo, always followed closely by our border collie Emma.
Ethan was a kind and compassionate young man, he was also a seeker of fun. As a teen, you could find him up at Schweitzer Mountain on his snowboard in the winter months, and flying around the local skatepark in the summer. The skateboard park is where he’d get his nickname , with his body and board resembling a bird so much that his friends began calling him “Birdman.” And somehow, it was perfect.
Ethan Inherited a love of food from Quinn, going from always eating the best meals to wanting to cook them himself. He wanted to be a chef when he grew up, working in some of the local restaurants as a teenager. His signature dish was chicken enchiladas—extra sour cream, of course! It was a recipe given to him by Tango Cafe’s owner Judy Colegrove, who took Ethan under her wing and hired him for a summer season, further fostering his love of cooking.
In early adulthood, Ethan was diagnosed with schizophrenia; making the start of a journey that would require so much of him. His struggles were real and his life was challenging, with everyday life requiring him to handle so much more than most people could imagine. But, like the bright child who memorized his state capitals, Ethan always fought to understand and make sense of the world, his illness, and his life within them. After 7 years of struggle, and hope, and pain, and resilience, Ethan lost his life to a system that failed him. Ethan was shot 6 times by a Spokane Sherriff deputy May 4, 2019 while experiencing a mental health crisis. He was unarmed, no crime had been committed, and his toxicology report was clean.
And in the time since he’s passed, I’ve turned to the mountains to find him; to be reminded of the conversations we’d share while on a trail and the bond that came from our experiences together, outside. The mountains offered Ethan peace, calm, and solitude—even when he was struggling. They were a place he felt safe just being himself.
Ethan was loved unconditionally by his family, and we know his memory will live on through us. In his honor, we will continue to talk and help break the stigma associated with mental illness. From the moment of his death, my family and I have been visited by hummingbirds. We think they’re his way of checking in and letting us know he is ok. We love and miss you everyday, Birdman.
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