Five shootings in one week rattle Montavilla neighbors

It’s not known if, or how many, of the incidents were connected, but the fifth shooting in this outer East Portland neighborhood proved deadly …

On three occasions, police are called to the same (aqua) duplex in the Montavilla neighborhood – when gunmen open fire on occupied residences.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Investigators aren’t saying if the five shootings that took place in the Montavilla neighborhood, beginning August 27, are believed to be related.

But the result of all the gunfire were one person dead, one wounded, and one duplex perforated by bullet holes.

Three shootings, same residence

Neighbors say a shootout took place here, in or near this parking lot along NE 78th Avenue, just south of Glisan Street, used by the Highland Christian Center. It’s directly across the street from the targeted duplex.

On August 27 gunfire erupted in a parking lot along NE 78th Avenue, just south of Glisan Street. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers later located close to two dozen shell casings there.

Then, on the evening of August 31, PPB officers were again called at 3:51 a.m., when neighbors again reported hearing shots on NE 78th Avenue – this time directed toward a duplex, where neighbors reported having seen a resident duck out the door and return fire at a passing car.

Officers find abundant “evidence of gunfire” along NE 78th Avenue.

More shots rang out on the street, aimed at the same duplex, on September 1.

Officers learned that a man had arrived at the Providence Portland Hospital Emergency Department with gunshot wounds which may have been related to that shooting. The man had what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries, a police official said.

Bullet holes, and evidence markers, remain at this shooting-involved duplex.

“I’m told that several of our neighbors have written a letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler and Chief Outlaw asking for their help,” resident Lena Kantek told East Portland News. “This used to be a nice, safe neighborhood; but now, with two children here, we’re afraid to leave our home.”

Officials have yet to release further information about their investigation of these shooting incidents.

‘Street-rager’ shoots at motorist

Police come to investigate this shooting in Montavilla, where SE 94th Avenue runs along Interstate 205.

August 30, 2019 at 9:30 p.m., police were called to the eastern edge of Montavilla, just west of the I-205 freeway, when a woman reported to police that someone shot at her car near the intersection of SE 94th Avenue and Salmon Court.

“A female adult victim called in, saying that she had been shot at and left the area for safety,” a Police Bureau spokesperson said. PPB Gun Violence Reduction Team investigators reported that, after the motorist had courteously flashed her headlights to signal another vehicle to go ahead and pass her on the narrow of the street, someone in that car opened fire on her.

A bullet hole in her vehicle confirmed the woman’s story; but she was not injured.

Deadly park confrontation

Police close down SE 92nd Avenue, between Hawthorne Boulevard and Taylor Street, after a woman is shot in Berrydale Park.

At 11:24 p.m. on September 2, 9-1-1 Center dispatchers sent PPB officers out on a “Shots Fired” call to the intersection of SE 92 Avenue and Main Street, just blocks away from that street-rage shooting.

“When they arrived, officers discovered a person with injuries related to the shooting,” confirmed PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Brad Yakots.

Detectives learned that a woman, her husband, her teenage daughter, and other family members, were walking in nearby Berrydale Park, just north of Creative Science School, when residents living nearby came out and complained that they were making “too much noise”.

Her father said that his daughter, Denise Elliott, shown here, died shortly after being shot. Charles Tracy provided photo

That woman, later identified as 41 year-old Denise Elliott, died at the scene, according to her father, Charles Tracy, who told reporters, “The medics were doing CPR but they didn’t do it very long.”

The deceased’s father said “words were exchanged” before Denise and her family started walking toward his house a block away – which was when she was shot by a man, his family members told him.

“This investigation is in its early stages,” Yakots said. Investigators would like to hear from anyone with information about this incident. Please call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 and reference case number 19-303052.

© 2019 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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