Argument leads to dad murdering son, on SE 122nd

It’s still unclear what the disagreement was about, but the result is certain …

Police converge on the Seven Gables Apartments, in the Mill Park neighborhood, after receiving reports that a man had been stabbed.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A dispute between father and son took a deadly turn on June 29, at the Seven Gables Apartments – just south of Midland Library parking lot, on SE 122^nd Avenue.

At 3:23 p.m., Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct District officers were called the scene of what witnesses said was a stabbing.

The PPB Mobile Precinct arrives, serving as headquarters for the investigation.

“This young guy was running, then walking, and then limping around, in the parking lot,” said Demetrious Williams.

“He was screaming, ‘I’ve been stabbed’ and then he fell down,” Williams told East Portland News. “We could see a lot of blood. Some people tried to help him, others called the cops.”

About the incident, PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson said, “A witness, and one of the first arriving police officers, began CPR on the victim, identified as 22-year-old Nicholas Lawson, until medical personnel arrived. But, life-saving efforts were not successful, and he died at the scene.

58-year-old Michael Lawson is accused with stabbing his son to death, near the apartment where reportedly they both resided. MCDC booking photo

The victim’s father, 58-year-old Michael Lawson, was transported to a Portland hospital for health- and heat-related treatment, prior to being interviewed by detectives and being booked into jail, Simpson said.

The elder Lawson was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 5:28 a.m. the following morning, after being released from medical care. He was jailed on charges of Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

According to court records, Lawson refused to cooperate with court officials after he was booked into MCDC. And, at his arraignment in Multnomah County Court, Lawson appeared to be unresponsive, so his arraignment was delayed for at least a day by the senior court judge on duty.

PPB Homicide Detectives discuss their findings with criminalists at the scene.

At this point, there is no information regarding the nature of the disagreement that resulted in the fatal attack.

A search of public records shows that the elder Lawson had numerous prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, in addition to many probation violations – primarily for DWII and Driving with a Suspended License.

Lawson is being held without bail at MCDC.

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