So far, there have been two arrests related to this case – but oddly, one of the arrested had also been one of the shooting victims …
Because of police vehicles parked in the street after a drive-by shooting in the Hazelwood neighborhood, SE 122nd Avenue is closed to traffic.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
After neighbors reported a drive-by shooting in outer East Portland on May 12, a little after 12:30 p.m., police came to SE Ash Street, two blocks west of SE 122nd Avenue, and blocked off the area.
“I heard at least ten shots – loud ‘bang, bang, bang’ rapid fire – coming from the street,” said Inez Kitchener, a resident of the apartment building next to where the shooting took place.
“Over the last ten years I’ve lived here, it’s gotten worse, as the people who live here have changed over,” Kitchener told East Portland News, as police were beginning their investigation.
District and Gang Enforcement Team officers flood into the area to begin their investigation of the noontime drive-by shooting.
“Officers and medical personnel arrived and located two gunshot victims – a male in his 20s, and a male in his 30s, both of whom were transported by ambulance to Portland hospitals with serious injuries,” reported Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Public Information Officer Sgt Pete Simpson.
“Both victims are expected to survive their injuries,” Simpson added.
The area near this vehicle is the focus of a search for clues in the noontime shooting.
Along with East Precinct district officers, PPB Gang Enforcement Team investigators were on hand to begin interviewing witnesses, and they later reported that a dark blue sedan with tinted windows, occupied by three African American males, had been traveling westbound on SE Ash Street near the apartment building, when the drive-by shooting occurred.
During the investigation, officers located bullet holes in an apartment unit that had been occupied at the time of the shooting – but no additional injuries were reported.
By 3:00 p.m. officers and investigators had cleared the scene, but district officers were still on the lookout for the suspect vehicle.
Outside an apartment unit that was struck by bullets during the drive-by shooting, officers search for evidence.
Shooting victim arrested
At 10:03 p.m. that evening, Gang Enforcement Team officers spotted a suspicious vehicle, with two occupants, near NE 121st Avenue and Glisan Street, in the McDonald’s parking lot in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood.
“The vehicle’s backseat passenger ran from the car when officers pulled up; officers captured 31-year-old Ronald C. Rhodes after a short foot chase,” revealed PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Greg Stewart.
“Officers began an investigation which led to the recovery of two firearms, as well as drugs and materials related to the distribution of drugs,” Stewart said.
31-year-old Ronald C. Rhodes is arrested and charged with Parole Violation, drug distribution, and weapons charges.
Rhodes was booked into Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 1:04 a.m. on May 13 with two weapons charges and four drug charges, including Delivery of Heroin, a Class A Felony. Following his arraignment later that day, Patterson remains in custody in MCDC on a Parole Violation “County Hold” – and also in lieu of $82,500 bail.
“The driver, 23-year-old Antwain M. Patterson – one of the individuals wounded earlier that day in the drive-by shooting – stayed in the car,” remarked Stewart.
After being shot earlier in the day, 23-year-old Antwain M. Patterson is arrested and booked on drugs and weapons charges.
Patterson was booked into the MCDC at 2:10 a.m. on May 13 on two weapons charges and four drug charges, including Delivery of Heroin, a Class A Felony. Following his arraignment later that day, Patterson remains in custody in MCDC in lieu of $82,500 bail.
© 2016 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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