Man murdered in Powellhurst-Gilbert street shooting

Week #195 Shooting Report | In two outer East Portland shootings this week, one victim dies of wounds; in the other gun crime, also in Powellhurst-Gilbert, officials aren’t saying much about it …

-1 Portland Police Bureau officers close off the street as they investigate a “suspicious death” in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

In the past week, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers, and members of the shooting reduction teams, have been busy investigating deadly homicides across the city.

Since our last weekly report, there were two shooting incidents that brought them out to investigate in outer East Portland…

February 27
‘Welfare Check’ uncovers Powellhurst-Gilbert homicide

It’s unclear who called for a “Welfare Check” – asking police to check on a person in distress – but that call to the 9-1-1 Center on February 27 at 11:59 a.m. sent PPB East Precinct officers to the 3300 block of SE 90th Place.

Just north of Powell Boulevard, police close off SE 90th Place while they investigate a “suspicious death”.

Police closed off SE 90th Place from Powell Boulevard north to Victor Street, making it impossible for media to see and report what was taking place at this incident – which was said to be near a sidewalk homeless camp.

What is known is that arriving officers came across one deceased man. “Due to suspicious circumstances found at the scene, the PPB’s Homicide Unit has responded to investigate,” a Portland Police spokesperson revealed in a press release.

It wasn’t until March 4th that the PPB disclosed that the “suspicious death” being investigated had indeed been confirmed as a homicide.

Portland Police identified this man, 41-year-old Christopher M. McMillan, as the murder victim. Family-provided photo

Police officials identified the victim as 41-year-old Christopher M. McMillan. The Medical Examiner determined that McMillan had died of “homicide by gunshot wound”.
This is still an active investigation. If you have information about the case is asked to contact Detective Sean Macomber at sean.macomber@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0404 or Detective Eric McDaniel at eric.mcdaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0833 and refer to Case No. 24-48302.

March 1
Teen shoots self in Powellhurst-Gilbert

At dusk, officers gather in front of a residence in an area of outer East Portland “shared” by Powellhurst-Gilbert and Pleasant Valley neighborhoods to investigate a shooting.

PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched to “shots fired” on Friday, March 1, at 4:58 p.m. The location was a home on SE Foster Road, between 131st and 134th Avenues.

Shortly after the dispatch, at 5:03 p.m., the first officers arrived at the scene. They grouped outside, in the driveway, before going down to the residence about 35 minutes later.

Eventually officers and investigators go down the driveway, toward the house where the shooting was believed to have taken place.

A neighbor, walking out the back of the driveway into Gilbert Park, remarked, “I’m pretty sure it wasn’t someone shooting into the house; but someone firing a gun inside – and maybe someone who wasn’t supposed to have a gun.”

Officers were at the scene well past sundown and into the evening.

“Officers responded to reports of a shooting and got conflicting information about what happened,” PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner told East Portland News.

Some officers guard the driveway’s entrance from SE Foster Road, while others “sort out” what happened in this house.

“Officers sorted it out, and determined a teenager shot himself while handling a gun. His injury is not life-threatening,” added Benner. “That’s all I have to share at this time.”

Well, if you have any more information about this to share with the PPB, email it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, and make reference to Incident No. 24-51209.

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