Week #105 Shooting Report | FEATURING 4 INVESTIGATION VIDEOS | INCLUDES 22 IMAGES | While Mayor Ted Wheeler outlines his ‘shooting reduction plans’, three more victims die in gunshot homicides this week; one was in outer East Portland. Plus, daytime injury shootings abound. See what’s going on in your neighborhood …
A deadly shooting in Lents – and injury shootings in Montavilla, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Parkrose and Centennial – keep Portland Police Bureau officers and investigators constantly on the go.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Thursday afternoon, July 21, Portland’s Commissioner of Police, Mayor Ted Wheeler, held a press conference at City Hall to announce a two-year plan to make our streets safer and introduced an “Emergency Declaration” called Safer Summer PDX.
But as officials were congratulating themselves on the plan after the press conference, that very afternoon yet another person was shot and injured in outer East Portland.
More about the Mayor Wheeler’s plan to reduce shootings by 10% – over two years – later in this story.
First, here’s who has been shot, wounded, and killed, this week.
July 15
Man slain by gunshot in Lents
SE Powell Boulevard is closed while police investigate a shooting homicide at 124th Avenue.
Reporters were alerted to a serious incident the intersection of SE Powell Boulevard and 124th Avenue and by the Bureau of Emergency Communication’s cryptic dispatch: “NO DESCRIPTION”.
However, with 20 Portland Police Bureau (PPB) units at the scene on Friday evening, July 15, at 7:58 p.m., it was clear that something newsworthy was involved.
The focus of this investigation is where a deceased man is located, on the north side of SE Powell Boulevard.
PPB Homicide Division detectives focus their look for evidence SE 124th Avenue.
On into the night, SE Powell Boulevard was shut down between SE 122nd Avenue and 128th Avenue, as what turned out to be a shooting investigation got underway.
“When officers arrived, they found an adult male who was deceased,” was the totality of the statement released by a PPB spokesperson.
Into the night, this shooting homicide investigation continues.
On July 19, officials revealed that the dead person was 44-year-old Aaron H. Follstad-Martin. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound, and the manner of death to be homicide.
Watch as this shooting murder investigation gets underway:
At an impromptu press conference at the site soon after the shooting, the murdered man’s wife, Shalonda Follstad-Martin, told reporters, “I just need these detectives to do their job. Like, really do their job. Because, to me, when our Black men are getting killed, they don’t care. They do not care.” The police bureau may beg to differ, and the case is actively under investigation.
This shrine was erected near the sight where Follstad-Martin was located.
If you have information about this incident, please contact Detective Rico Beniga at Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0457 or Detective Sean Macomber at Sean.Macomber@portlandoregon.gov. Let the PPB Detectives know this is regarding Case No. 22-189873.
More deadly shootings this week, outside our area
This week, homicidal shooting violence touched two additional neighborhoods in other parts of the city.
July 16
Noon shooting kills man in Boise neighborhood
The day after the Lents shooting death, on July 16, North Precinct officers were sent to the 3500 block of North Commercial Avenue, just north of Fremont Street. There, they located one victim injured in a shooting. The victim, an adult male, was taken to a local hospital by ambulance — but later died.
Contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0889; or Detective Eric McDaniel at Eric.McDaniel@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-0833 are working this homicide – reference Case No. 22-190426 – if you have information to provide.
July 19
One dead, another wounded in Kenton shooting
On July 19 at 11:51 p.m., North Precinct officers were sent to a “Shots Fired” call along North Terry Street, just west of Interstate Avenue. Officers found that two people in a car had been shot. The adult male driver was taken to an area hospital with significant injuries; the adult male passenger died at the scene.
During the homicide investigation North Terry Street was closed from North Fenwick Avenue to Interstate Avenue.
The Homicide Detectives working this case – Detective Sean Macomber at Sean.Macomber@portlandoregon.gov or Detective Rico Beniga at Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov – ask that they be sent any information available to help solve this murder. It’s Case No. 22-193861.
Outer East Portland injury shootings abound
It’s been difficult to keep up with all of the “Shooting-with Weapon” calls this week. Brazen daytime gunfire, causing injures in Montavilla, Powellhurst-Gilbert, and Foster-Powell neighborhoods, were just three of the major shootings.
July 17
Daytime Montavilla Shooting/Carjacking ends in Powellhurst-Gilbert
A yellow evidence marker shows where one spent bullet shell casing was located at this daytime carjacking/shooting in Montavilla.
A “Shooting-with Weapon” call, dispatched at 1:01 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, was reported at the intersection of East Burnside Street at 87th Avenue. East Precinct officers found a crime scene a block south: It was actually on Ankeny Street, just east of 87th Avenue.
Officers with the PPB Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) were documenting the crime scene. An officer on the perimeter of the area] told East Portland News that this was a carjacking, with an injury shooting.
These PPB ECST officers begin their investigation at the location of the carjacking/shooting in Montavilla.
“When they arrived, they located one male who had been shot; he was taken to a local hospital by ambulance and he is expected to survive,” later said PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon about this incident. “The suspect, or suspects left the scene in the victim’s car, and were not immediately located.”
See police investigate both the carjacking/shooting, and search for the driver of the carjacked vehicle:
Stolen car spotted near Ed Benedict Park
But, an East Precinct officer later spotted that stolen vehicle, the same evening, in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, near SE Bush Street at 104th Avenue, and attempted a traffic stop.
Officers gather in Ed Benedict Park, ready to begin a manhunt.
“The driver did not stop, and led officers on a short pursuit before he crashed the vehicle, and ran off on foot,” Carmon said. “Numerous officers set up a large perimeter around the area].”
“Numerous officers” was quite an understatement! That “Area Check” resulted, by 8:44 p.m., with 33 police cruisers in the area – which was just 2.6 miles due south from the carjacking when the car was taken that afternoon, on the southeast edge of Ed Benedict Park.
PPB’s SERT coordinates a search of the neighborhood; one of their armored vehicles is parked next to this group.
“Due to the belief that a possible armed subject was in the neighborhood, the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded to the scene,” informed Carmon.
Also responding were PPB’s Air 1 Air Support Unit, a K9 Unit, the Enhanced Community Safety Team, and a Focused Intervention Team Officer.
Joining them were members of the Gresham Police Department, who brought their Drone Operations Unit.
A Gresham Police Department drone takes off in the park.
“During the hours-long search, SERT officers, with the help of the Air Support Unit, located the suspect hiding in a neighborhood backyard, and was taken into custody,” Lt. Carmon reported.
Sorry, no booking photo. CLICK HERE to learn why you are not permitted to see the booking photo of 27 year-old Benjamin Jaleel Clark, who – despite being charged with four Felonies – was released into the community, the next day – no bail.
The suspect, 27 year-old Benjamin Jaleel Clark was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center MCDC on two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree – a Class B Felony – as well as Attempt to Elude, and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.
Although “additional charges may be appropriate pending further investigation”, and even though he was charged with four Felonies and a Misdemeanor, Clark was set free, without paying any bail. Release Reason: Court Release on Recognizance.
June 20
Daytime Powellhurst-Gilbert gang shootout wounds woman, passing through in car
After emergency medical first responders rushed an injured woman to the hospital, her car was left behind along SE Powell Boulevard.
After gunshots were reported a little after 2:30 p.m. on June 20 along SE Powell Boulevard near 132nd Avenue, a westbound red Honda Fit slowed and rolled to a stop, near the Fairhaven Apartments, near the street’s bike lane.
East Precinct officers who were dispatched on this “Shooting-with Weapon” call at 2:46 p.m. saw the car, with the injured woman inside being helped by paramedics riding Portland Fire & Rescue Mill Park 7’s Ladder Truck, when they arrived.
This bullet hole in the window, at head level, made it first appear as if the victim was the target of the shooting. As it turned out, the suspected gang members were shooting at each other.
Upon our arrival, the driver’s-side window was down, and blood was evident on the door. The passenger’s-side window was shattered.
Numerous spent bullet casing markers littered the south side of the street, about a half block east of the car.
The victim, was an adult female, told reporters that at first, no one came to help. Then, someone called 9-1-1 and she was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
“The initial description of her injury was it being a graze wound,” PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Kevin Allen first told East Portland News. “But, we’ve since learned that her injury was much more serious, as a bullet pierced the bridge of her nose,” he updated.
Near SE 136th Avenue, police find numerous spent bullet shell casings, each indicated with a yellow evidence marker.
“We have no reason to believe she was the intended target; investigators do believe she was an innocent passerby caught in crossfire,” noted Sgt. Allen.
“The suspect or suspects left the scene,” Sgt. Allen continued. “ECST is investigating; their investigators consider all gunfire, aimed at Portland community members, to be attempted murder cases,” he concluded concluded.
Officers look along SE Powell Boulevard for additional evidence.
The following day, KPTV FOX 12 News identified the victim as 27-year-old Katie Guzenko. The victim told their reporter the believe she was running errands when she was caught in the middle of a gang shootout.
Here’s video of the investigation of this suspected gang shootout that had tragic results for a innocent woman:
Hearing of Mayor Wheeler’s “Emergency Declaration” [SEE BELOW], Guzenko said she didn’t think it was rigorous enough. “Especially with how much shootings have gone up over the last few years, it seems they should strive to do better,” she told the reporter.
Detectives are hoping to hear from anyone with information – or a video security video – about this crime, either reported to crimetips@portlandoregon.gov, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers. Please refer to Case No. 22-194468.
July 21
Daytime shooting injures man in Mt. Scott-Arleta
This ambulance is taking a shooting victim to a local area hospital.
Mid-afternoon on July 21, a neighbor told East Portland News that she distinctly heard three gunshots along S.E. Henry Place, coming from the direction of 80th Avenue.
PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched to the area, a block away from Woodmere Elementary School, on this “Shooting-with Weapon” call at 3:47 p.m., as were paramedics on Portland Fire & Rescue Lents Station 11’s Engine.
Awaiting the arrival of the PPB’s ECST, an officer used a folded business card to mark the site of a spent bullet shell casing on S.E. Henry Place.
An injured person was quickly loaded into an ambulance, and rushed off in an ambulance, with emergency lights flashing and siren sounding.
While officials at City Hall congratulate one another for revealing an all new “‘gun violence’ reduction plan” – watch as police investigate yet another shooting:
As many as 11 police units were called to this shooting, including a PPB Canine Team. The PPB’s Enhanced Community Safety Team ECST took over the investigation, with some officers working in the case until after 10:00 p.m. that evening.
This officer has just place another business card evidence marker over a shell casing in S.E. 80th Avenue.
“An adult male was seriously injured by gunfire and was transported to an area hospital,” was what PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon had to say about this incident.
The suspect or suspects remain outstanding. This is Case No. 22-195575.
But look! There were even more outer East Portland injury shootings this week
Due to their intense workload, Portland Police hasn’t been able to provide information about these additional “Shooting-with Weapon” calls, to which emergency medical providers were also sent.
- July 16 at 2:56 p.m. – Adventist Hospital; walk-in gunshot; Case No. 22-190520
- July 16 at 9:03 p.m. – Parkrose; NE 105th Ave/Sandy Blvd; Case No. 22-190794
- July 17 at 4:39 a.m. – Centennial; SE Stark St/159th Ave; Case No. 22-191079
- July 19 at 2:01 p.m. – Montavilla; E Burnside St/87th Ave; Case No. 22-193423
If you have information about any of these shootings, email it to crimetips@portlandoregon.gov – and be sure to include the Case Number.
~ SHOTS FIRED LOG ~
With as many as “Shooting-with Weapon” injury-calls as were logged this week – and three gunshot homicides across the City of Portland – it should not be surprising that our area logged 40 “Shots Fired” calls. Police do not find evidence of shooting at many of these calls, however.
July 13 [+4 outside our area]
22-187850 07/13/2022 at 18:38:42 1700 Block of NE 82ND AVE
22-188016 07/13/2022 at 21:38:31 7900 Block of SE 76TH PL
22-188027 07/13/2022 at 21:51:36 SE ASH ST / SE 81ST AVE
22-028704 07/13/2022 at 23:17:24 5000 Block of SE JENNE RD
22-188074 07/13/2022 at 23:20:33 00 Block of SE 127TH AVE
July 14 [+3 outside our area]
22-188967 07/14/2022 at 21:55:43 4400 Block of NE 74TH AVE
22-188965 07/14/2022 at 21:59:54 12000 Block of SE BOISE ST
22-189019 07/14/2022 at 22:55:54 4600 Block of NE 73RD AVE
22-189028 07/14/2022 at 23:06:48 1700 Block of SE 148TH AVE
July 15 [+7 outside our area]
22-189146 07/15/2022 at 01:52:45 200 Block of SE 129TH AVE
22-189854 07/15/2022 at 19:36:50 15900 Block of SE MARTINS ST
22-190009 07/15/2022 at 23:11:49 4600 Block of NE 102ND AVE
22-190050 07/15/2022 at 23:49:23 NE 72ND AVE / NE LOMBARD ST
July 16 [+10 (yes, ten) outside our area]
22-190085 07/16/2022 at 00:37:31 11200 Block of SE DIVISION ST
22-190137 07/16/2022 at 02:01:00 5900 Block of SE WOODSTOCK BLVD
July 17 [+15 outside our area]
22-190922 07/17/2022 at 00:07:34 3700 Block of NE 73RD AVE
22-190954 07/17/2022 at 00:31:41 2200 Block of NE 102ND AVE
22-190975 07/17/2022 at 00:52:28 14100 Block of NE SANDY BLVD
22-029129 07/17/2022 at 01:40:28 NE 162ND AVE / NE HALSEY ST
22-191030 07/17/2022 at 02:18:07 8300 Block of NE PACIFIC ST
22-191021 07/17/2022 at 02:33:11 800 Block of NE 125TH AVE
22-191037 07/17/2022 at 02:37:17 SE 115TH AVE / SE DIVISION ST
22-191386 07/17/2022 at 13:48:27 10700 Block of NE WYGANT ST
22-191389 07/17/2022 at 13:53:45 SE 67TH AVE / SE KNIGHT ST
22-191824 07/17/2022 at 23:18:58 8900 Block of SE LAFAYETTE ST
July 18 [+13 outside our area]
22-192059 07/18/2022 at 06:47:32 2500 Block of NE 121ST AVE
22-192132 07/18/2022 at 08:33:58 SE 148TH AVE / SE DIVISION ST
22-192381 07/18/2022 at 13:52:27 8300 Block of NE BEECH ST
22-192394 07/18/2022 at 14:08:54 16000 Block of SE KELLY ST
22-192422 07/18/2022 at 14:44:49 7100 Block of SE 69TH AVE
22-192827 07/18/2022 at 23:23:20 11100 Block of NE WYGANT ST
22-192829 07/18/2022 at 23:27:59 6700 Block of SE DUKE ST
July 19 [+5 outside our area]
22-192926 07/19/2022 at 01:58:20 600 Block of NE 87TH AVE
22-193000 07/19/2022 at 05:23:43 NE 109TH AVE / NE WYGANT ST
22-193729 07/19/2022 at 20:28:43 2500 Block of NE 122ND AVE
July 20 [+2 outside our area]
22-193867 07/20/2022 at 00:02:26 5800 Block of SE 111TH AVE
22-193903 07/20/2022 at 01:11:56 3600 Block of NE 162ND AVE
22-193934 07/20/2022 at 02:10:40 3900 Block of SE 122ND AVE
22-193980 07/20/2022 at 03:59:16 8000 Block of SE BOISE ST
22-193729 07/19/2022 at 20:28:43 2500 Block of NE 122ND AVE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mayor Wheeler announces Emergency Declaration to help address ‘gun violence’
On July 21, Mayor Ted Wheeler outlined a two-year, “evidence-based plan” called Safer Summer PDX.
“Safer Summer PDX is accompanied by an emergency declaration that will implement the plan in an agile, accountable, coordinated and fair manner, reducing Portland’s ‘gun violence’ by at least 10 percent over the next two years,” says Mayor Ted Wheeler at his press conference. City of Portland press conference screen capture
His Emergency Declaration “activates $2.4 million to near-term, community-based violence interventions”, according to his office’s information.
This plan was revealed just two years after Mayor Wheeler disbanded the Portland Police Bureau’s Gun Violence Reduction Team – the very day that the immediate, sharp increase in shooting violence began 105 weeks ago.
Will Mayor Wheeler’s “new plan” really increase public safety in outer East Portland neighborhoods? You decide: Read more about Safer Summer PDX at Mayor Wheeler’s website: CLICK HERE.
Ending on some good news
These are the incoming staff members being welcomed to the Portland Police Bureau. PPB video still capture
Although the Portland Police Bureau is an estimated 300 officers short of being fully staffed – including a large exodus at the end of June – there is hopeful news.
Also on July 21, the bureau held a hiring ceremony. The PPB presented 16 new sworn Officers, one PS3, one Chaplain, and six new professional staff members that day.
© 2022 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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