But, the man alleged to have used his apartment as an indoor shooting range slipped away from them. You’ll be amazed to find out how and where this kilt-clad gunman was later found …

It looks as if this robber had it all planned out: Hit the freeway and make a clean getaway. You’ll be amazed to see how quickly an alert outer East Portland cop foiled his escape …

When you see this guy pointing a really big gun directly at the clerk’s chest, you’ll see why we’re asking you to turn him in to CRIME STOPPERS and earn $1,000 cash reward …

We’ve told you how businesspeople and neighbors worked to create a Community Policing office in the Parkrose area. Now, see what – and why – Centennial neighbors have done the same in far-south outer East Portland …

Allegedly growing and selling pot – near two elementary schools – is bad enough. Find out what Sheriff’s deputies say was also allegedly for sale, at this Glenfair neighborhood residence …

Find out who was given the prestigious Pennington Award – and learn about a group of kids promoting a safer Portland – right here …

Take a look, and see why you should be at the 1st Annual “Black and Blue Bowl” game coming up in a couple of weeks …

What is known is that a high school senior – a week away from graduation – was killed by a gunshot in this out-of-the-way outer East Portland park. But who shot her – and why – remains a mystery …

Officials are saying little about this killing, the most recent SE Portland homicide. Find out what we learned – and see exclusive photos at the scene – right here …

This fierce, fast-moving storm tore up tents at the Parkrose Farmer’s Market, and downed trees in SE Portland. See it all, right here …

After the sudden tempest caught this tent – as folks were closing down the Parkrose Farmer’s Market for the day – this tangled, bent frame was all that remained. Steve Voorhees photo

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The fast-moving thunderstorm that whipped up high, destructive winds and pelted the area with rain and hail during the late afternoon of Saturday, May 2, is now but a memory – but it will linger in the minds of many who were affected.

Parkrose Farmer’s Market tents damaged
Steve Voorhees, the market master of Parkrose Farmer’s Market, said the storm was a frightening experience for him and his family. The storm blew through just after they’d removed the weights from the tents and were starting to pack them, he said.

“A twister touched down for about 20 seconds in the Parkrose High School parking lot about 4:00 pm,” Voorhees told us. “My daughter, Molly, was thrown about 50 feet, while my son David held on to ‘the blimp’, standing under the Parkrose Middle School awning entrance.”

One of his son’s friends dove for cover under the family pickup truck, he added. “We lost three tents and a bunch of papers,” Voorhees added. “It comes as a kind of a blow; especially on our first day of the season.”

Wind whips trees into high-voltage line

High above the uprooted tree on SE 70th Avenue, a high-voltage line insulator dangled after the tall fir whipped into the line and broke it free.

Miles away, in Southeast Portland, the gusting wind uprooted a tree on SE 70th Avenue, between SE Harold and SE Mitchell streets.

“The real damage came from the tall tree behind it,” pointed out a crewmember on Portland Fire & Rescue’s Truck 25, who was standing by. “The tree, whipped by the wind, snapped into the high-voltage line, and broke off the top insulator.”

Officials were concerned that this high voltage line, no longer supported by the insulator, would drop into the street.

Neighbors reported a flash of light and a shower of sparks, as the wet limbs of the tree temporarily shorted out the power line. Police and firefighters stood guard until Portland General Electric crews could repair the line.

Storm brings down an Eastmoreland elm

After standing the test of time for decades, this stately Eastmoreland elm tree was uprooted by the microburst that rolled through the area.

In inner SE Portland, one of Eastmoreland’s legendary elms toppled on SE 36th Avenue at SE Ogden Street.

Homeowner Sherri Romaniello looked in stunned amazement at the giant tree that once stood majestically at her curb, now uprooted and leaning into the street. “I’ve lived here for over 40 years,” she said. “I think they put in the trees when they built the houses in 1935.”

Homeowner Sherri Romaniello said she is surprised that the tree that stood in front of her home for more than 40 years was blown over.

The event made a lot of noise, Romaniello, recalled. “But more than that, I saw a big bolt of what looked like lightning. I was in the back of the house. The whole sky lit up outside of the window. Then the power went out.”

Her first instinct was to go look out her front door. “It was hard to believe what I was seeing. At least, it didn’t hurt anyone as it fell – and it didn’t land on any houses or cars.”

The impact of the falling tree pulled Romaniello’s electric service drop line off the top of her home’s meter head. “Fortunately I have gas, so, at the least, I can warm some water on the stove,” she said.

The delightful spring weather that followed the fast-moving, unforecast storm brought out spectators who stroll through the streets of Eastmoreland, looking at the storm damage.

Meteorologist attributes damage to microbursts
It was not too late in the season to have a “cold air trough” meet a mass of warm behind it, explained National Weather Service meteorologist Tiffani Brown, when we asked about the storm.

“When we see a cold air trough – with warm air behind it – the situation causes instability of the atmosphere,” Brown noted. “We do see these weather conditions, especially during the spring when there is some daytime warming, and have a strong weather cold system in the area; this tends to develop thunderstorm activity.

Brown concluded that the damaging winds could be caused by a “microburst” or “downburst”. “A downburst occurs when fast-moving air is trapped above the storm and has nowhere to go. When it finds a weak spot through which to move downward, it does so with wind speeds measuring 50 to 60 mph.”

The weather station at the offices of THE BEE newspaper in Westmoreland, the rain gauge – observed just after the storm – measured .93 inch for the day.

As to whether or not we can expect more violent storms, Brown commented, “This is the time of year when we most expect these kinds of storms to occur.”

© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

We may never know why the husband shot his wife of many years – and then himself. Learn the outcome of this tragic event here …

Police closed off SE 135th Avenue, from SE Main Street north to David Douglas High School, while they investigated the double shooting the left a man dead.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Neighbors of Bobby and John Clayton said they were puzzled and saddened to learn that a double shooting at their home – in the 1100 block of SE 135th Avenue, just south of David Douglas High School – had left her wounded and him dead on May 2.

While officials still say little about the case, we headed toward the scene listening to events unfold on emergency services channels.

One of the messages relayed was that, seven minutes before the shooting call came in to the emergency 911 Center, a woman, 42-year-old Bobby Clayton reportedly called her father in Vancouver, WA. The message relayed to officers on scene was she told her dad that there was a domestic dispute taking place, and that she was “being held hostage”. Her father told the calltaker that he was concerned and was on his way.

The report of a shooting brought out a large police response to this otherwise quiet street.

At 8:58 a.m., “911 operators received a call from a woman saying she was inside the house and had been shot by her husband,” reported Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Det. Mary Wheat. “When officers arrived, they went inside the house to rescue the woman. Once inside, they assisted the woman and found one deceased male who had shot himself.”

Officials later identified the deceased person as 45-year-old John David Clayton, Bobby Clayton’s husband. “It appears that John Clayton shot his wife and then shot himself,” confirmed Wheat.

Although Bobby Clayton was reportedly shot three times – in the shoulder, arm and hip, all on her left side – paramedics called OHSU Hospital saying that she was alert and conscious, and able to talk with them. “She is expected to survive,” Wheat added.

Officers and detectives compare notes after investigating a scene where they say the husband turned the gun on himself, after he had shot and wounded his wife.

As Multnomah County Animal Control arrived to take charge of the couple’s two dogs, neighbors shook their heads in dismay. “They’ve lived here since the 1980s and seemed like nice people,” said a resident who declined to identify himself. We noted a white van with a Medeco High Security Locks logo on the door. “He worked for a security firm,” confirmed the neighbor.

Another neighbor added, “This is so unusual for this neighborhood. Things are pretty quiet around here.”

© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

It wasn’t gang activity that shut down East Burnside Street, just a block away from Ventura Park School. Could this tragic death been avoided? See what happened here …

Police say the residents of this small Hazelwood bungalow never gave them any problems — until a single shotgun blast ended the life of one of its residents.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The house at 11750 E. Burnside was the perfect bachelor dwelling for the two 18-year-olds who lived there. Now, it sits empty – one young man is dead; the other is in jail charged with his death.

Officials say turned deadly for the pair of teenagers, said to be long-time friends, a little after 2:30 p.m. on April 28. Neighbors heard a gunshot ring out and saw one of the roommates, Andrew Gabriel Perez, run out the door, shouting that someone had been shot.

“Portland Police Officers responded a call about a shooting that had just occurred,” stated Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Detective Wheat. “When officers arrived, they found 18-year-old Chance Domingo Caron deceased inside the residence.”

Portland Police Bureau homicide detectives confer outside of the home where one roommate apparently accidentally shot the other.

Detectives executed a search warrant for the residence, Wheat continued, and found the gun they believed was used in this incident. “The cause of death appears to be one gunshot wound.”

While neighbors reported there been troubles at the house next door to where the shooting occurred, Wheat said, there had been no problems at that residence itself. “It wasn’t gang-related; investigators believe that Perez accidentally shot Caron,” explained Wheat at the scene.

Police charge this man, Andrew Gabriel Perez, with accidentally shooting his friend and roommate – thinking his shotgun was unloaded.

Northbound E. Burnside Street was blocked off at SE 117th Avenue, while homicide detectives conducted their investigation.

According to police and court records, Perez was handling his shotgun, inserting and ejecting shells. Apparently, not all of the shells were ejected when Perez triggered the weapon; the blast struck Caron in the head, killing him.

“Andrew Perez was charged with one count of Criminal Negligent Homicide and was lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center,” Wheat added. Perez was arraigned on Manslaughter in the Second Degree, we learned, and will be back in court on May 7.

Behind the scenes: Ever wonder how the TV stations are able to “go live to the scene”? They use mobile production trucks; their tall masts beam the TV picture to the station.

© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News