Murder victim found lying in Lents front yard

UPDATED > It’s unclear when the shooting took place, but here’s what’s known about yet another outer East Portland shooting death in Lents …

After another deadly shooting in the Lents neighborhood, investigators move in to investigate in the front yard of a residence.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Lents neighbors looked grim as Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers, detectives, and forensics investigators – and the Medical Examiner –closed off SE Reedway Street, between 103^rd and 104^th Avenues on Friday morning, May 24.

The investigation focused on the front yard of a home about midway in the block, on the north side of the street.

Crime scene evidence markers, like these in the street, abound in the area.

“I’m sure I heard some shooting going on, but it seemed like it was last night; it seems like about 10:30 p.m. – not this morning,” remarked neighbor Becky Portage.

“Except for the homeless people that steal everything that isn’t nailed down and trash the neighborhood, this has been a great, affordable, and pretty quiet neighborhood for the 20-or-so years I’ve lived here,” Portage told East Portland News as she gazed at evidence markers in the street near her house.

Streets are closed off as detectives and investigators move in, using the PPB Mobile Command Center as their headquarters.

“I hope the Police Commissioner [Mayor Ted Wheeler] doesn’t nix the cops’ [Gun Violence Reduction Team] like that commissioner [Jo Ann Hardesty] was pushing for – it seems like we’re having shootings here every week, and people downtown don’t care,” commented Portage.

It wasn’t long until officers were shooing everyone off this block of SE Reedway Street, westward, as the crime scene perimeter expanded to SE 102^nd Avenue.

On the order of detectives, officers expand the crime scene west, toward SE 102^nd Avenue.

“On May 24, 7:38 a.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a person found deceased in the front yard of a home in the 10300 block of SE Reedway Street,” confirmed an unnamed PPB spokesperson. “Officers responded and located a person that was confirmed deceased; there was also evidence of gunfire found nearby.”

PPB Homicide Division detectives peer at possible evidence as the investigation continues.

Homicide Detectives completed their on-scene investigation of themorning’s death by 2 p.m. and the streets were reopened. The Medical Examiner departed with the deceased and will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

A police press release announced that “when the Medical Examiner completes a report and next of kin is notified, the deceased will be identified. No further updates are expected until that happens.

Officials did not reveal any suspect information; nor, if there were any lingering public safety concerns.

UPDATE:
On May 25, officials reveled: “The Medical Examiner identified 44-year-old Sergey V. Peshkov as the victim, and has determined that the ‘manner and cause’ of death was homicide by gunshot wounds.”

Homicide Detectives are hoping to hear from anyone with information about this case who have not yet been interviewed. Please contact Detective Todd Gradwahl at 503-823-0991, or via todd.gradwahl@portlandoregon.gov – alternatively, you can contact Detective Travis Law at 503-823-0395, or travis.law@portlandoregon.gov.

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