9 more shootings, in 5 days, shock five outer East Portland neighborhoods

Wanton violence by depraved individuals, using guns, ramps up – leaving death, injuries, damage, and fear in their wake …

Portland Police Bureau officers are sent running, from one shooting scene to another, investigating nine shootings – in just five days.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

There’s no need for us to editorialize about the failure of Portland’s Police Commissioner, Mayor Ted Wheeler and members of the Portland City Council to act on this urgent community problem, as they apparently avert their gaze from the carnage and blood running in outer East Portland streets; the increasing number of shootings and murders speaks for itself.

In the first 15 days of 2021, there have been 51 verified shooting incidents and 16 people struck by gunfire so far, across the city – with most of them taking place in outer East Portland.

January 10
Shooting wounds two at Argay Terrace bereavement vigil

PPB Assault Detectives, North Precinct officers, and a Forensics Division staffer encounter much of gunfire evidence where a shooting wounds two people in an Argay Terrace apartment complex parking lot.

After shots were fired in the parking lot of the Hidden Oaks Apartment Homes in the 4500 block of NE 125th Place on January 10, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) North Precinct officers – as well as detectives, and a member of their Forensics Division – were dispatched at 7:02 p.m., bringing a dozen units to the scene.

Bullet casings littered the driveway and covered parking structure inside the apartment complex – some of them near prayer candles set out to memorialize a previously-deceased person.

In the distance, detectives look at evidence at this shooting crime scene. PPB image

“Officers learned that two people had been shot while attending a vigil for someone who had recently passed away,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon. The two victims, one male adult and one female adult, were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

An officer takes a closer look at a spent bullet casing near Evidence Marker #21.

“Investigators found two apartments and a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire; more than 20 spent bullet casings were recovered at the scene,” added Carmon.

No arrests have been made. So, anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Portland Police at 503-823-3333 and reference Case #21-9101.

January 12
Parkrose shooting leaves man dead on a neighborhood street

Officers investigate the first of three Parkrose neighborhood shootings in several days – this one was deadly.

After shots were heard on NE 100^th Avenue, midblock between Wygant Street and Sandy Boulevard, at about 4:10 a.m. on January 12, PPB North Precinct officers were dispatched.

“Upon their arrival, officers found a deceased person,” the PPB’s Carmon confirmed. “Detectives from the Homicide Division arrived and investigated.”

Later that day, Carmon released the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report and findings, which determined the victim had died of a gunshot wound, ruling the shooting a homicide – and that the victim’s identity was not yet known.

Investigators provided an image of the victim’s distinctive tattoo. This lead to the identification of the slain man as 41 year-old Miguel Angel Armenta-Hernandez. Family provided photo via PPB

Due to the nature of the investigation, PPB Homicide Division detectives didn’t reveal much about this case, other than that the deceased is still unidentified – until January 25 – when officials say the murdered many was 41 year-old Miguel Angel Armenta-Hernandez.

The investigation is ongoing; anyone with detail about this care is encouraged to contact Detective Travis Law at Travis.Law@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0395 or Detective Ryan Foote at Ryan.Foote@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0781.

January 13
Bullets spray Powellhurst-Gilbert and Hazelwood neighborhood streets

Looking into more shootings, one of them leading to an arrest for attempted murder, law enforcement officers close off streets while investigations get underway.

Dispatched: January 13; 9:08 p.m.
Gunfire evidence found, again, on SE 136^th Avenue
The Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood street that seems to be a magnet for shootings – including the infamous “mile-long shooting crime scene” – SE 136th Avenue, about two blocks north of Powell Boulevard – East Precinct officers found “evidence of gunfire”, but “no evidence that anyone was injured.” It’s Case Number 21-12094.

Dispatched: January 13; 9:56 p.m.
Assault leads to Attempted Murder arrest in Hazelwood
East officers were dispatched to a “Shots Fired” call along SE 146th Avenue, just south of East Burnside Street, near Hazelglen Place. They located a crime scene in a nearby apartment, where a victim had been assaulted; but the victim was not struck by gunfire. “An adult female suspect was detained,” Sgt. Allen revealed about Case Number 21-12117.

Charged with the Felony of Attempted Murder is 33-year-old Lakecia Unique Dean. MCDC booking photo

UPDATE: While suspects are often not identified and arrested in these shootings, on January 15 PPB officials revealed that 33-year-old Lakecia Unique Dean was arrested in this case. She was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on January 14 at 3:38 p.m. on the Class A Felony charge of Attempted Murder – as well as Class C Felony charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

At Dean’s arraignment, she learned her combined bail was set at $260,000; she remains incarcerated at MCDC in lieu of bail.

January 14
Three shootings, in three neighborhoods, create havoc

It’s another busy night for PPB Forensic Division Crime Scene Investigators – they go from one shooting to another, in Powellhurst-Gilbert, Parkrose Heights and Parkrose.

“It was another active night of shooting events,” is what PPB Public Information Officer

Sergeant Kevin Allen described regarding the following crimes, all taking place on January 14.

Dispatched: January 14; 12:52 a.m.
More gunshots in Powellhurst-Gilbert, once again on SE 136^th Avenue
Officers were dispatched to the same location of the earlier “Shots Fired” call on SE 136th Avenue, and “located evidence of gunfire, but no strikes”. This is Case Number 21-12214.

Dispatched: January 14; 12:59 a.m.
Parkrose Heights houses shot up by several shooters
Two blocks north of NE San Rafael Street, in the 12000 block of Thompson Street near Merrifield Park, was the location to which North Precinct officers were called. Officers found evidence of “multiple firearms being discharged”.

Three occupied houses were struck by bullets, one of which contained a 14-year-old and a 7-year-old. In another house a bedroom wall, where a couple was sleeping, was pierced by a bullet. Three cars were also struck by gunfire. This is Case Number 21-12218.

Dispatched: January 14; 1:38 a.m.
Three wounded in Parkrose shooting

In the second of three Parkrose neighborhood shootings in a week, on or near NE Sandy Boulevard, officers tirelessly investigate.

Not far from the January 12 shooting in Parkrose, several calls to the 9-1-1 Center dispatched PPB North Precinct officers to NE Sandy Boulevard near NE 111^th Avenue and on another “Shots Fired” call.

“Officers located evidence of gunfire, and learned from witnesses that the victims drove off before police arrived,” Sergeant Allen reported. “A short time later, officers learned that two adult male victims and one adult female – all with gunshot wounds – had arrived at a hospital; two had minor injuries and one had serious injuries.”

PPB Assault Detectives are investigating the case, but there is no suspect information at this time. No Case Number was provided.

Dispatched: January 14; 11:07 p.m.
Person wounded in another Parkrose shooting
This “Shots Fired” call – later that same day – a was again along NE Sandy Boulevard, this time near 99th Avenue, near others reported on January 12 and 14.

North Precinct officers came across a person who was “struck by gunfire – and was taken to an area hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” PPB Public Information Officer Melissa Newhard said, adding that officers had located evidence of gunfire. This is Case Number 21-13169.

January 15
Shootings continue Powellhurst-Gilbert

With shootings in both the northern and southern neighborhoods of outer East Portland continuing, officers are called to investigate.

Dispatched: January 15; 12:33 a.m.
House shot up in another Powellhurst-Gilbert shooting
East Precinct officers who were dispatched to this “Shots Fired” call in the short block of SE 125th Avenue, between Clinton Court and Taggart Street found more than just evidence of gunfire.

“Officers found also found several bullet strikes to the residence, as well as bullet strikes to a vehicle in the driveway,” Officer Newhard reported. “Approximately 10 bullets entered and passed through a bedroom where two individuals were sleeping – but no one was hit by the gunfire.” This is Case Number 21-13220.

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You can help: Using the case numbers provided, report any information you may know about any these cases to PPB Assault Detectives at calling 503-823-0400 or emailing to crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.

Express your concerns about shooting violence, but kindly please
Don’t just whine and complain about the danger caused by the increasing violence committed by vicious people using guns. Let your City of Portland elected officials know the unease you are feeling.

Please provide your full name and neighborhood (anonymous emails are typically discarded) – and please use polite and civil language as you advocate for increased public safety for your neighborhood’s streets when you send email messages to:

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