‘Gun Violence Prevention’ plan not yet halting shootings

UPDATED: Arrests Made! A coalition formed by officials to ‘quell gun violence’ doesn’t stop another daytime shooting in outer East Portland in Hazelwood, the day after their plan is revealed – or yet another shooting, the day after that one, in Powellhurst-Gilbert …

Hours after Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announces a coalition to “quell gun violence”, a car-to-car shooting injures a woman here on SE Stark Street.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A flurry of publicity on May 14, including a statement by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and a press release from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), revealed that “A coalition of law enforcement and non-law enforcement partners are collaborating in an effort to quell the gun violence public health crisis in Portland.”

But neither this announcement, nor the planned coalition, prevented two more daytime shootings from taking place the very next morning, on May 15 – and yet another on May 16! Read on to learn about these cowardly assaults.

But first, speaking through his press agent, former KGW-TV reporter Tim Becker the evening of May 14, Mayor Wheeler stated, in part,

“The City recently learned three alarming things:”

Groups involved in this violence have issued an order to shoot someone in the next 30 days, or be shot for not showing loyalty.
Individuals and groups are here in Portland from Washington and California to engage in, and advance, gun violence.
These actions begin a retaliatory cycle that only escalates. The current trajectory of the rising violence is unacceptable, and it requires immediate action.

The mayor’s press release continued:

This weekend, investigators with the Portland Police Bureau’s Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) are on duty and in uniform, and working with partners at the FBI.

Their high visibility presence in the community is intended to deter anyone considering committing criminal acts. They’ll also provide a quick response to any shootings that do happen, gather information, witness statements, and evidence, and immediately follow-up on leads. Crime Prevention Outreach workers from Office of Violence Prevention will also be in the community where needed to provide support and ease tensions.

The press releases were dispatched on Friday evening, May 14, 2021 at 8:20 p.m.

Some neighbors have remarked to East Portland News that the PPB’s Chief put a “plan to reduce gun violence” on Mayor Wheeler’s desk – before Christmas – in December, 2020. And, although the PPB Enhanced Community Safety Team was rolled out three months ago, on February 19 – the shootings continue, seemingly unabated.

Shots ring out 11 hours later …

As a PPB Forensics Division worker packs up, officers talk with ECST members about this daytime shooting, the morning of May 15.

On Saturday morning, May 15, at 7:43 a.m., PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched to a “SHOOTING – WITH WEAPON” at SE Stark Street, just west of 122nd Avenue.

There, officers found a woman sitting injured in a bullet-riddled white Subaru sedan, who was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital. “She was struck once, in the shoulder, and seriously wounded; but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening,” a PPB official said.

This Portland Police evidence photo documents the six bullet holes found in the side of the Subaru sedan. PPB provided image

The PPB’s ECST was called in to investigate this shooting incident.

“Investigators believe that the victim was shot from another vehicle, as she was driving eastbound on SE Stark Street; multiple rounds entered her side window,” the PPB spokesperson reported.

Yellow evidence markers tent bullet casings left in the street after this shooting.

Apparently, the suspect left before police were called and no suspect information is available.

If anyone has information, they’re asked to contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference Case No. 21-130741.

May 16 – Man shot in Powellhurst-Gilbert

Investigators find evidence of another shooting, this one on May 16, along a residential neighborhood street.

Then, on May 16, 2021, at 4:39 p.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to yet another “SHOOTING – WITH WEAPON” call; this one in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on SE Taggart Street, between 125th and 127th Avenues.

While officers converged on that location, a shooting victim flagged down other officers who had been working on an “Occupied Stolen Vehicle” report on SE Division Street near 141st Avenue.

FBI agents discuss their findings about this shooting with PPB ECST officers. PPB image

“The shooting victim was related to the shooting call on SE Taggart Street; an adult male victim suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries, and was transported to an area hospital,” a PPB official later revealed.

Again, the PPB ECST responded to outer East Portland to investigate.

UPDATE: Suspects arrested

This the gun officials say they found associated with the Powellhurst-Gilbert shooting. PPB image

In this case, 22-year-old Janero Rodriguez, of Damascus, was arrested May 16, 2021 and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on May 17 at 12:35 a.m. on charges of the Class A Felonies of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (3 counts) and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts). A gun was recovered from the scene.

Rodriguez spent part of a day in custody; although, according to MCDC booking records, the Courts set his combined bail at $767,500, those records also show he was released the same day he was booked. Release Reason: Made Bail.

These two men, 22-year-old Janero Rodriguez and 28-year-old Enrique Vallejo were charged in the Sunday afternoon shooting in Powellhurst-Gilbert that left one man wounded. MCDC booking photos

Then, on Wednesday, May 19, 28-year-old Enrique Vallejo of Portland was also arrested in connection of this shooting; he was apprehended in the area of SE 106th Avenue and Stark Street. Vallejo was booked into the MCDC on charges of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (3 counts) and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (3 counts).

At this writing, although a judge “released” Vallejo from several Attempted Murder Class A Felony charges, he remains in custody at MCDC in lieu of $265,000 combined bail.

If you, or someone you know, someone who witnessed this shooting, please contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference Case No. 21-131980.

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