UPDATED: Grand Jury Reports … Find out what led to a homeless person being shot by an outer East Portland business owner …
Portland Police close down SE 82nd Avenue of Roses, just north of SE Woodstock Boulevard, after they encounter a man, shot in the stomach and lying on the ground.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A homeless man is dead, and the person who shot him will soon find out if he’ll be charged with a crime, after the two confronted each other about 2:30 p.m. on February 20 near SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and SE Ramona Street.
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers – quickly followed by Portland Fire & Rescue units – rushed to the scene, after a caller to the 9-1-1 Center reported he had shot a man in the stomach.
As detectives arrive at the location, officers string crime scene tape.
Soon, red police crime scene tape marked off the gravel parking lot between Cobbler Bill’s shoe store and the house-turned-offices for Golden Key Insurance Agency, located at 5821 SE 82nd Avenue of Roses.
“Detectives have learned that 32-year-old Jason Gerald Petersen had entered the Golden Key Insurance Agency and confronted business owner 47-year-old Charlie Win Chan and his wife about some missing personal property he claimed to have left near the business,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson.
An officer escorts insurance company owner Charlie Win Chan from the scene.
It’s quiet here now, but a homeless man apparently left his belongings on the front porch of this house – the location of Golden Key Insurance Agency,.
“Petersen left the office, and shortly thereafter, Chan went outside and [south into] the parking lot next to the business, where he was confronted again by Petersen, leading to the shooting,” Simpson said.
Although quickly transported to a hospital, Petersen died that evening. “The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Peterson died of a single gunshot wound,” revealed Simpson.
Throughout the afternoon, 82nd Avenue of Roses was closed to traffic while the investigation progressed; it reopened about 9:00 p.m.
Family members say that Jason Gerald Petersen, seen here in a photo they provided, had lost a job, suffered from mental illness, and was homeless.
One family member, Justin Petersen, told reporters he didn’t want to “rush to judgment” about the situation, and admitted that his brother suffered from mental illness and was homeless.
The deceased man’s brother did wonder aloud why, after his brother left the office, Chan didn’t simply lock the door and call police, instead of following him outside.
Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, police investigate the shooting.
“Chan has not been arrested, and the case will be presented to a Multnomah County Grand Jury once the investigation is complete,” Simpson said.
Chan has not responded to messages requesting an interview.
UPDATE
On March 10, a Multnomah County Grand Jury returned a “no true bill” in the shooting death of Petersen and that no criminal prosecution was warranted as a result of the use of deadly force by Chan.
The Grand Jury heard how detectives learned that Petersen entered the Golden Key Insurance Agency and confronted Chan, the business owner, about some missing personal property Petersen had left on the front porch of the business.
During this confrontation, Chan stated that Petersen threatened to kill him and burn down his business as he left the building. About five minutes later, Chan went outside where he stated that Petersen attacked him, resulting in the shooting.
Chan, a valid concealed handgun license holder, called 9-1-1 to report the shooting and cooperated with the subsequent investigation. Petersen was not armed at the time of the shooting.
© 2017 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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