Week #109 Shooting Report | INCLUDES CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION VIDEOS | Not only does a man die from gunfire in Hazelwood, young teens are wounded in an early morning shooting on Rocky Butte. Also, check out this week’s ‘Shots Fired Log …
Shootings, lots of shootings, including a gunshot homicide, again plague Hazelwood, Montavilla, Lents, Madison South, Wilkes and Russell neighborhoods, sending police officers to most of our neighborhoods this week.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In our 109th week since the bloodbath of constant shootings began – correlating directly with “defund the police” lobbying, and disbanding of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Gun Violence Reduction Team – the carnage created by violent people using guns continues.
This week, we saw a gunshot homicide in Hazelwood; a man on the run pointing a gun at officers; a shooting at The Grotto – and young teens wounded in a pre-dawn shooting on Rocky Butte. All this, plus 41 entries in the outer East Portland “Shots Fired Log”.
We wish there were fewer shooting incidents to report to you. To see what your City of Portland elected officials are doing to reduce shooting violence, read on.
Actually, there were two shooting homicides in Portland this week – three days before the shooting death in Hazelwood, a man was shot to death on August 14 about 10 p.m. in the North Portland neighborhood of Portsmouth at Northgate Park.
August 17
Shooting murder in Hazelwood along the MAX line
Again, officers are dispatched to a deadly shooting, this one along side the TriMet MAX Light Rail line.
This week’s East Portland gunshot murder story began just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17. Neighbors heard a brief period of male voices shouting and screaming – followed by several rapid-fire gunshots – near the north side of the intersection at 127th Avenue and East Burnside Street.
The assailant and others were seen running south across the TriMet MAX Light Rail Blue Line tracks, and continuing down 127th Avenue toward S.E. Stark Street.
First officers in secure the crime scene at this Hazelwood neighborhood deadly shooting.
At the scene of the crime, we learned that the victim had received multiple bullet wounds and died before help arrived.
PPB officers, dispatched to the shooting at 8:09 p.m., shut down the MAX line and created a crime scene on both sides of East Burnside Street, from 122nd Avenue east 128th.
Officers begin to investigate at the scene of this shooting – there looks to be a homeless encampment nearby.
Portland Fire & Rescue Mill Park Station 7’s Engine Company was waved off before it arrived. An empty ambulance came and left.
“When officers arrived, they located one man deceased,” confirmed a PPB representative in a terse, written statement. “The suspect or suspects fled the scene and no immediate arrests were made.”
The PPB’s Mobile Command Unit rolls in, as does the bureau’s specialty shooting oriented units.
PPB Homicide Unit detectives arrived and began investigating. The now-familiar PPB Mobile Command Unit drove in, heading east in the westbound lane of now-closed East Burnside Street, and stopped just short of 127th Avenue.
Watch, from afar, as this shooting homicide investigation gets underway:
Eventually, more than a dozen officers and detectives joined this investigation – one that continued on into the night.
If you have information about this case, contact Detective Ryan Foote Ryan.Foote@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0781 or Detective Travis Law at Travis.Law@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0395. This is Case No. 22-221936.
Four major shooting incidents this week
More documented incidents of shootings took place this week. One at The Grotto; another with an armed man in Lents; an incident in Rocky Butte involving young teenagers driving cars and shooting; and finally, one in Parkrose.
August 16
Injury shooting at The Grotto
An officer speaks with a possible witness to an injury shooting, at The Grotto.
It is still unclear if the man was shot and wounded on early evening of August 16 inside the grounds of The Grotto, on the western edge of the Parkrose neighborhood; or, outside the fence, where a substantial homeless camp has sprung up.
PPB officers, who were dispatched to this “Shooting-with Weapon” incident at 6:46 p.m., staged in the parking lot of The Grotto, near the main entrance. One officer was seen holding a roll of red police tape, well inside the grounds; but we were asked to stay back.
Inside The Grotto, an officer stands by to mark off the area where a man was shot and wounded – if they can find it.
District officers, and those from the PPB’s FIT and ECST squads formulate a plan to take a suspect into custody.
After several minutes, members of the PPB’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) joined the district officers.
Watch officers gather, then go outside the fence to take a person-of-interest into custody:
Hopping back in their vehicles, the dozen officers now at the scene circled around and out the west entrance of The Grotto’s parking lot, and filled NE Skidmore Street, from Sandy Boulevard to Ward Street.
Now along NE Skidmore Street, officers demand that a suspect surrender.
Using the PA system of a patrol vehicle, an officer loud hailed, directing that anyone in a specific camper parked along The Grotto’s fence come out with their hands up.
Some officers had long guns drawn, another had a ballistic shield in hand, as a 20-minute standoff continued.
The suspect officers were seeking is safely taken into custody; however, he was not charged with a crime.
A man did come out, hands up. “The person who was detained was not charged with a crime,” PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen later told East Portland News.
Then, when further information became available, PPB Public Information Officer Lt. Nathan Sheppard reported, “A man was shot in the upper leg and was taken to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The wounded man was alert and talking, but did not provide information about where the crime scene took place.”
The investigation is ongoing. This is Case No. 22-220877.
August 16
Armed and wanted man shelters in Lents auto shop
With police after him, an armed man ran into this business – Rodriguez Auto Repair, in the Lents neighborhood.
On August 16 22, just after 8 p.m., PPB FIT officers were on a mission to arrest a wanted man, 49-year-old Robert John Connelly, on several federal and state warrants associated with gun crimes and charges of sexual assault.
When members of FIT attempted to arrest Connelly on SE Lambert Street at 82nd Avenue of Roses, the suspect pointed a gun at them. In response, officers fired their weapons at Connelly.
Bullet holes remain in this vehicle near where the wanted man pulled a gun on police.
After he fired on the police, Connelly ran into a nearby business that faces SE Lambert Street – Rodriguez Auto Repair – and barricaded himself inside. Security video showed bullet strikes hitting the door frame of the office. Members of PPB’s Special Emergency Reaction Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called in.
This still frame from security video recorded just outside Rodriguez Auto Repair shows Connelly, gun clearly in hand, aiming directly at a police officer. Still frame from security video
As Connelly ran into the auto repair shop, the business’s owner, Alonso Rodriguez, ducked behind a Mini Cooper which was up on the repair rack, and took shelter.
Security video inside the office showed Connelly running in, trying to escape through another locked door, threatening a customer, and then smoking a “crack pipe” as he paced back and forth.
Suspect Connelly takes drug-smoking break. Still frame from security video
The customer, Miguel Sanchez, told reporters that he didn’t hear the shooting because he was wearing ear buds and listening to music, and was shocked to see an armed man barge into the office.
As Connelly became more agitated and desperate, Sanchez said he could think of nothing else than to share his faith with the man. Sanchez said Connelly replied that it was “okay for him to die tonight”. To that, Sanchez told him that if he was killed, “you’ll go straight to hell and you will pay for eternity.”
The suspect surrenders. Still frame from security video
With that, Connelly called out to officers that he was coming out and surrendering.
After his arrest, Connelly was eventually booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on August 17 at 5:12 a.m. on charges of Burglary in the First Degree, Menacing with a Firearm (3 counts), Unlawful Use of a Weapon (3 counts), Escape in the Second Degree, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in addition to all the warrants which the officers had come to arrest him.
To learn why you are not allowed to see the booking photo of 49-year-old Robert John Connelly, CLICK HERE.
A judge dropped the bail for Connelly on all “unsentenced” nine Felony charges and all four Misdemeanor charges. However, he is nonetheless being held in the MCDC in lieu of $3,876 bail on a “County Hold”, and also on a no-bail “US Marshall’s Service Hold”.
“Once again, our officers have been put in harm’s way while attempting to keep our community safe; and. I’m grateful for their hard work and heroism, and that they get to return safely to their loved ones tonight,” remarked PPB East Precinct Commander Erica Hurley in a press release. “I’m also proud that their dedication and vigilance has led to this violent offender being taken off of our streets.”
If you have information about this incident, and have not already spoken to police about it, contact Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@portlandoregon.gov or Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@portlandoregon.gov and reference Case Number 22-220929.
August 18
Teen and child shot on Rocky Butte
NE Rocky Butte Lane is closed off well below Joseph Wood Hill Park, as police investigate a shooting involving youngsters, out very early in the morning.
Near the southern tip of Joseph Wood Hill Park, atop Rocky Butte near the cul-de-sac of NE Rocky Butte Lane, PPB officers were dispatched to a “Shooting-with Weapon” at 2:54 a.m. on August 18.
When officers arrived, they found a 14-year-old boy with serious injuries who was taken to a local hospital. A 12-year-old girl, grazed by a bullet, was treated at the scene and released.
An ambulance races away, with a gunshot wounded 14-year-old boy inside, down the road from Rocky Butte, and to a local hospital.
The PPB’s ECST responded to the scene and took over the investigation. These officers determined that victims were in a vehicle with three other juveniles aged 12-to-14 years of age.
“Evidence at the scene indicates at least 38 rounds were fired, and at least 11 of them struck the occupied vehicle,” reported PPB spokesperson Lt. Nathan Sheppard.
The suspect or suspects fled, and no information on the person or persons being sought is currently available; no arrests have yet been made.
This is Case No. 22-222207.
August 18
Man suffers gunshot injury in Wilkes
An officer looks for spent bullet casings, or other evidence, after a shooting in the Wilkes neighborhood.
After shots ran out in the 15800 block of Sandy Blvd at the massive Columbia Ridge apartment complex, PPB officers were dispatched at called to investigate at 10:24 p.m. on August 18.
Again, the PPB’s ECST officers were also sent to the scene of the shooting, and took over the investigation.
“A victim was shot and suffered serious but non life threatening injuries; and, was transported to the hospital by ambulance,” PPB’s Sgt. Allen told East Portland News.
“The suspect or suspects fled and were not immediately located; evidence was collected and the investigation is continuing,” Sgt. Allen added. This is Case No. 22-222968.
Two more injury shootings
Both PPB officers and emergency medical first responders were sent to these additional “Shooting-with Weapon calls:
- August 12 at 3:05 a.m. – Hazelwood neighborhood; East Burnside St. at 105th Ave.; Case No. 22-217344
- August 13 at 5:53 a.m. – Russell neighborhood; 1900 block NE 122nd Ave. near Winco; Case No. 22-218058
PPB ECST investigators consider all gunfire aimed at Portland community members to be attempted murder cases. If you have any information about a shooting case, please contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and be sure to include the Case Number. Or tips can be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers and get cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information, reported to Crime Stoppers.
~ SHOTS FIRED LOG ~
Up from last week, the outer East Portland “Shots Fired Log” contains 40 entries. Additionally, there were 39 additional “Shots Fired” calls to which officers were sent outside of our area. Evidence of shooting is not always found at these calls.
August 10
22-215246 08/10/2022 at 21:53:52 6500 Block of NE EMERSON ST
22-215328 08/10/2022 at 23:29:10 SE ALDER ST / SE 162ND AVE
August 11
22-216031 08/11/2022 at 17:16:29 12100 Block of E BURNSIDE ST
22-216127 08/11/2022 at 19:15:26 14200 Block of SE BUSH ST
22-216300 08/11/2022 at 23:20:05 SE POWELL BLVD / SE 112TH AVE
August 12
22-216488 08/12/2022 at 04:35:35 13500 Block of SE POWELL BLVD
22-216632 08/12/2022 at 08:44:57 4100 Block of NE 82ND AVE
22-217259 08/12/2022 at 21:16:23 00 Block of NE 154TH AVE
22-217283 08/12/2022 at 21:42:03 4600 Block of SE 122ND AVE
August 13
22-217378 08/13/2022 at 00:01:32 12600 Block of SE TAGGART ST
22-217469 08/13/2022 at 02:39:13 2800 Block of SE 85TH AVE
22-217603 08/13/2022 at 07:17:25 SE 153RD AVE / SE DIVISION ST
22-217967 08/13/2022 at 16:41:35 4600 Block of SE 122ND AVE
22-218030 08/13/2022 at 18:28:23 3400 Block of NE 64TH AVE
22-218122 08/13/2022 at 20:46:10 12800 Block of SE HOLGATE BLVD
22-218228 08/13/2022 at 23:15:47 9600 Block of SE STARK ST
August 14
22-218343 08/14/2022 at 03:04:13 SE 122ND AVE / SE STARK ST
22-218348 08/14/2022 at 03:26:24 7500 Block of SE HENRY ST
22-218381 08/14/2022 at 04:16:26 13600 Block of E BURNSIDE ST
22-218395 08/14/2022 at 04:45:46 7500 Block of SE HENRY ST
22-218401 08/14/2022 at 04:57:36 7500 Block of SE HENRY ST
22-218614 08/14/2022 at 12:19:00 1100 Block of NE 113TH AVE
22-219074 08/14/2022 at 22:30:42 SE 122ND AVE / SE SHERMAN ST
22-219075 08/14/2022 at 22:32:12 800 Block of NE 122ND AVE
22-030192 08/14/2022 at 22:33:02 SE 179TH AVE / SE YAMHILL ST
August 15
22-219222 08/15/2022 at 02:44:24 NE 81ST AVE / NE GLISAN ST
22-030211 08/15/2022 at 03:08:18 1200 Block of NE 162ND AVE
22-219232 08/15/2022 at 03:23:45 SE 78TH AVE / SE YAMHILL ST
22-219239 08/15/2022 at 03:38:32 500 Block of SE 72ND AVE
22-219277 08/15/2022 at 05:31:20 2300 Block of SE 105TH AVE
22-219432 08/15/2022 at 10:09:41 4100 Block of SE 82ND AVE
22-220017 08/15/2022 at 21:22:58 00 Block of NE 147TH AVE
22-220077 08/15/2022 at 22:44:02 SE CLINTON ST / SE 120TH AVE
August 16
22-220195 08/16/2022 at 02:27:01 15900 Block of NE FREMONT ST
22-220222 08/16/2022 at 02:47:13 SE 136TH AVE / SE HOLGATE BLVD
22-220252 08/16/2022 at 04:13:51 NE 100TH AVE / NE GLISAN ST
22-220263 08/16/2022 at 04:35:33 SE 126TH AVE / SE STARK ST
22-220701 08/16/2022 at 15:04:42 00 Block of NE 127TH AVE
22-220905 08/16/2022 at 19:20:03 NE 148TH AVE / NE GLISAN ST
August 17
22-221191 08/17/2022 at 04:51:12 4600 Block of SE 75TH AVE
22-221328 08/17/2022 at 07:47:45 SE 86TH AVE / SE CRYSTAL SPRINGS BLVD
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Members of the Portland Police Bureau are doing their job, investigating one shooting after another. What are City of Portland elected officials doing?
The “Safer Summer PDX” plan to reduce “gun violence”, as Portland’s Police Commissioner and Mayor Ted Wheeler calls it, was enacted on July 21.
Other than vaguely remembering Mayor Wheeler rolling out his plan, many have never seen how the programs contained therein are supposed to reduce shooting violence. Take a look:
Quoting from the SAFER SUMMER PDX PLAN:
Focused Investment
Funded by the $2.4 million [emphasis added] invested by the City to combat gun violence, the Focused Investment group will lead Safer Summer PDX through strategically targeted investments in three areas:
- Complimenting the efforts of the OVP (Portland Office of Violence Prevention) to persuade those at highest risk of shooting not to shoot;
- Engaging at-risk youth in the highest impacted areas in pro-social activities; and,
- Place-based investments in the most impacted neighborhoods to address environmental factors conducive to gun violence.
Later in the “Plan” it is stated:
“OVP and its community-based direct service partners. OVP partners with programs that support people at the highest risk of being victims or perpetrators – or both – of violence. These efforts seek to build the capacity of people to successfully make different choices and pursue other avenues for addressing and resolving conflict.”
One of those tactics listed in the “Plan” is:
Street Level Outreach (SLO) – workers engage with youth/young adults between the ages of 8 to 18 years old and who are at risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence. The goal is to reduce their risks and limit their future involvement with the criminal justice system.
QUESTION:
With all of the gunshot murders continuing to take place, all of the injury shootings, and all of the “Shots Fired” calls unabated – including 12-to-14-year-olds out wilding on a 2:54 a.m. shooting spree – do you feel you’re getting your money’s worth, yet, from the “$2.4 million invested by the City to combat gun violence”?
Well, do you feel safer now?
© 2022 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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