Week #72 Shooting Report | Learn what PPB Chief Chuck Lovell says about reducing shootings; and, the shooting standoff in Centennial, also, a man shot in Wilkes this week. Also, check our weekly ‘Shots Fired’ log to see what might be up on your street …
Once again, streets are closed down for shooting investigations, this time in the Centennial and Wilkes neighborhoods.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
On a Thanksgiving Day weekend, it is sad to report some families will find little about which to be grateful – with shootings taking the lives of two individuals – an alleged hostage in the Centennial neighborhood, and a man who was fatally wounded in the Wilkes neighborhood.
>> Read on to learn more about these shooting incidents. But first, here’s what the City of Portland is trying to reduce the number of shootings and murders committed by violent persons, using guns.
Portland’s Police Chief comments on shootings
In the wake of the incident in the Gateway area, along NE Halsey Street on Saturday evening, November 13 – in which a suspect (now in custody) opened fire on Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers – Chief of Police Charles “Chuck” Lovell held an online press conference with reporters, [made available to the public] the afternoon of November 19.
In his opening remarks, Chief Lovell commented, “What we do is dangerous work; perhaps more now, than [it as been] in some time.”
PPB Chief Chuck Lovell, in an online press conference, has just addressed the severe problem of shootings – specifically, in outer East Portland.
Referencing the blatant shooting in Gateway, East Portland News asked, “When can folks in outer East Portland expect the number of shootings to go down?”
“Yeah you know, that’s a great question,” Chief Lovell began his response. “[But this question] is one that I don’t have a definitive answer for.
“And it is really troubling, for a police chief, when you see brazen people shooting at officers,” Lovell agreed. “We’re thankful that no officers were hitters injured.
“I’m hoping that the implementation of the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) will help in that regard,” commented Lovell. Note that the FIT has yet to be implemented.
He continued, “As we increase our capability in our staffing – that will help over time. But I really think there’s a lot to do to address community violence that is not necessarily a police thing,” remarked Lovell. “I think it’s a ‘heavy lift’ [in which] community partners and other people can really help.”
What, after temporary funding?
As we reported last week, on November 17, the Portland City Council voted to accept the “Fall Supplemental Budget” for the 2021-2022 fiscal year – which added $5.2 million of one-time funding back into the PPB’s budget – a budget that was previously slashed by about $15 million.
“With it taking about three years to hire and train needed officers, how does this one-time funding work out, as we go into the 2022-23 budget cycle?” we asked.
It’s up to the elected members of the Portland City Council to decide if the Portland Police Bureau will receive more financial support during the next budget cycle, says PPB Chief Lovell.
Chief Lovell responded, “I wish I had the answer to what will happen in every budget cycle. That would be a lot less worrying to me. But, this is a good point – a fair point – this is one-time funding.
“I view this as a commitment to a one-time process,” Lovell conceded. “I feel that people know that this isn’t going to get solved between now and next July. In order to actually implement these things, and this [temporary-funded] package is . . . going to take additional commitment beyond this budget year’s [temporary funding], to see these things through.”
Hostage dies, officers duck bullets, in Centennial standoff
SE Division Street is completely closed down, in the Centennial Community Association neighborhood, as Portland police officers and specialized teams try peacefully resolve a potentially-deadly hostage situation.
What started off as “Welfare Check” on November 21 ended with officers dodging bullets, and with a victim dead, inside the “D Street Salal Apartments” on SE 171st Avenue, just north of SE Division Street.
The call originated at 3:37 p.m., when a crying woman called 9-1-1 to report that she was being held hostage.
Police vehicles fill the street, in front of the “D Street Salal Apartments”, in the left in this image.
Before officers arrived, neighbors started calling in, saying they’d said they’d heard shots in the area. After climbing the stairs to the second floor, officers went to the apartment unit’s door and knocked.
The officers jumped back, aside and down the stairs as a shot came through the door from the inside, but the officers did not shoot back through the closed door. No police were injured.
A member of the PPB Special Emergency Response Team pulls specialized equipment from one of their support vehicles.
SERT sets up for confrontation
As officers reported to dispatchers that they had heard additional shots being fired within the residence, command staff called out the PPB’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT).
From blocks away, CNT officers could be heard “loud hailing” the suspect using of their Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). They also tried the telephone – all without avail.
Officers with the SERT prepare a remote-control robot to be sent up to the apartment.
At the scene, we heard concussive, explosive “booms” at 8:36 p.m. and 8:44 p.m. Later, it was learned that SERT members began to break windows at the location to get a better view inside.
“Once the windows were broken, a suspect from inside the location began shooting in the direction of officers,” said PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon.
“A chemical agent was deployed into the residence, and the suspect started shooting again; officers did not return fire, and continued to loud-hail the suspect using the LRAD, asking the person to surrender,” he continued.
Here, describing the unfolding incident to news reporters, is PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon.
Eventually, officers were able to break through a barricaded door to allow their remote-control robot look inside.
“Officers could see a male suspect inside, crawling around on his hands and knees, but he then barricaded himself in another room,” Carmon said. At 1:12 a.m., members of SERT were able to make entry into that room and take the suspect into custody.
“Officers located a female inside the residence who was deceased,” sadly reported Carmon.
The next day, the shattered apartment windows still are clearly visible.
Outside the apartment door which the suspect repeatedly shot through, a detective stands guard.
Suspect taken into custody
Officers booked 29-year-old Davonte Arnez Donahue into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on November 22 at 6:28 p.m. on charges of:
- Murder in the First Degree (Domestic Violence)
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Domestic Violence)
- Attempt Murder in the First Degree (Five Counts)
- Multnomah County Warrant
Arraigned for Murder in the Second Degree/Domestic Violence, and six other Felony charges, is 29-year-old Davonte Arnez Donahue. MCDC booking photo
At his arraignment, Donahue learned the Murder in the First Degree (Domestic Violence) charge had been lowered to Murder in the Second Degree (Domestic Violence), still a no-bail charge. Combined bail for the additional charges totaled $1,550,000. Additionally, a United States Marshall’s no-bail “hold” has been placed on Donahue.
According to court documents, Donahue had escaped in August from a “transition center” to which he was transferred, after serving some five years of a nine-year sentence in a federal prison, for a 2016 conviction of sex trafficking of a minor.
This woman, Portland resident Mariela Gonzalez-Rocha, said to be the ex-girlfriend of Davonte Arnez Donahue, reportedly begged for her life before she was shot by him. Family provided image
On November 24, officials identified the deceased as 29-year-old Mariela Gonzalez-Rocha. According to court documents, Gonzalez-Rocha was found laying face down on the apartment’s floor, dead of a gunshot wound.
Her family has set up a GoFundMe account to defray her funeral expenses; CLICK HERE to contribute. Any remaining funds beyond the cost of her funeral will help support her son.
Anyone with any information related to this incident is asked to contact Detective Michael Greenlee at (503) 823-0871, Michael.Greenlee@portlandoregon.gov. or Detective Brad Clifton at (503) 823-0696 Brad.Clifton@portlandoregon.gov. When doing so, please reference Case No. 21-326134.
Man dies, after being shot in Wilkes
Portland Police Homicide detectives investigate another deadly shooting in the Wilkes Community Group neighborhood.
On Tuesday, November 23 at 10:04 p.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to look into new “Shots Fired” reports in the area along NE 162nd Avenue, south of Wasco Street, on the border between Portland and the City of Gresham.
The officers found more than just evidence of gunshots – they found an adult male victim who appeared to have been shot. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.
Officials hope you can help them find the killer of this man, 32-year-old David Sanders. Family provided photo
On November 24, officials identified the deceased as 32-year-old David Sanders. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Officer determined his cause and manner of death to be “homicide by gunshot wound”.
The suspect or suspects left the scene, and have not been located.
If you have any information about this case you’re asked to please contact Detective Steve Gandy at Stephen.Gandy@portlandoregon.gov or Detective Jeff Pontius Jeffery.Pontius@portlandoregon.gov at 503-823-0433.
~ SHOTS FIRED LOG ~
Night and day, PPB officers and detectives investigate the seemingly endless shootings that take place throughout outer East Portland.
Week after week, PPB officers continue to be dispatched to “Shots Fired” calls in our neighborhoods. Remember, however: Officers in other precincts are sent on almost as many calls in their districts, too. And, at many of the reported incidents, officers do not find evidence of shots having actually been fired.
November 18
21-323302 11/18/2021 18:21:54 SE 62ND AVE / SE HAROLD ST
21-323639 11/19/2021 03:38:12 100 Block of NE 102ND AVE
November 19
21-323715 11/19/2021 07:27:48 NE 82ND AVE / E BURNSIDE ST
21-323855 11/19/2021 10:44:11 18200 Block of NE RIVERSIDE PKWY
1-324293 11/19/2021 19:48:27 2500 Block of NE 117TH AVE
21-324304 11/19/2021 20:01:35 12300 Block of SE MADISON ST
21-324377 11/19/2021 21:52:15 7700 Block of SE 92ND AVE
21-324522 11/19/2021 23:47:22 NE 92ND AVE / NE SANDY BLVD
21-324648 11/20/2021 03:35:41 12500 Block of SE DIVISION ST
November 20
21-325211 11/20/2021 17:29:46 600 Block of SE 162ND AVE
21-325382 11/20/2021 20:16:15 15000 Block of SE RHONE ST
21-325417 11/20/2021 21:04:38 2600 Block of SE 145TH AVE
November 21
21-325605 11/21/2021 00:19:48 SE 148TH AVE / SE STARK ST
21-325617 11/21/2021 00:28:45 SE 108TH PL / SE HOLGATE BLVD
21-048575 11/21/2021 02:01:37 17500 Block of SE STARK ST
21-326118 11/21/2021 15:16:30 14800 Block of SE FOSTER RD
21-326235 11/21/2021 18:45:38 2500 Block of SE 109TH AVE
21-326364 11/21/2021 23:59:44 SE 136TH AVE / SE POWELL BLVD
November 22
21-326469 11/22/2021 02:11:33 00 Block of NE 84TH AVE
21-326493 11/22/2021 03:09:54 7300 Block of NE SANDY BLVD
21-327323 11/22/2021 23:06:51 12500 Block of SE POWELL BLVD
November 23
21-327373 11/23/2021 00:26:26 SE 91ST AVE / SE STARK ST
21-327377 11/23/2021 00:33:42 NE 95TH AVE / NE PRESCOTT ST
21-327523 11/23/2021 06:17:23 NE 62ND AVE / NE HALSEY ST
21-058641 11/23/2021 19:00:45 SE JENNE RD / SE CIRCLE AVE
21-328183 11/23/2021 19:17:17 9800 Block of SE WASHINGTON ST
21-328250 11/23/2021 20:59:14 12000 Block of SE ASH ST
21-328333 11/23/2021 22:31:57 SE 122ND AVE / SE POWELL BLVD
November 24
21-328947 11/24/2021 14:26:42 4200 Block of NE 133RD AVE
21-329214 11/24/2021 20:12:27 7100 Block of SE 87TH AVE
21-049100 11/24/2021 23:45:30 NE 162ND AVE / NE WASCO ST
November 25 [Thanksgiving Day morning]
21-329716 11/25/2021 11:12:46 600 Block of SE 160TH AVE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What can you do?
An empty folder at the City of Portland’s City Budget Office [CLICK HERE] already exists for next year’s city budget; actual work on the budget begins early in 2022.
Be aware of how your elected officials are choosing to spend your tax dollars – whether on your public safety, or not – in the next budget year!
© 2021 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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