Officials look into Powell Blvd. shooting

Here’s why a vehicle to vehicle shootout in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood vexes neighbors and business owners …

Officers block off SE 87th Avenue, just north of SE Powell Boulevard, after a shooting takes place in the area.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

After gunshots echoed in the 8600 block of SE Powell Boulevard on November 18, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. to investigate what callers to the 9-1-1 Center had described as a car-to-car shootout.

“Officers responded to a business in that location, and spoke with many witnesses – and found evidence of gunfire, to include shell casings; and bullet strikes to the business,” said PPB Public Information Officer Melissa Newhard.

Evidence of gunfire, including spent shell casings, are located by officers at the scene.

“From the preliminary information from witnesses, and from video surveillance, it appeared a van was being followed – very closely – by a dark colored, possibly forest-green-colored sedan,” Newhard told East Portland News.

“The van stopped abruptly, and then took off again – and it appears the passenger in the van began firing towards the dark sedan. Both cars sped off northbound, with the sedan following closely,” Newhard reported.

Into the afternoon, this investigation continues.

“It was just crazy, hearing the gunshots going off; I don’t know why our elected officials downtown aren’t paying at attention to all of the gun violence that’s scaring us – and killing some of us here – in outer east Portland, almost every day,” said Hazel Hanson as she watched the investigation unfold.

Officers were at the scene for several hours. They briefed PPB Detectives, as well as an investigator from the Forensic Division, who collected gun shell casings as evidence.

Newhard concluded, “There were no known victims, and no walk-ins to any area hospitals for gunshot wounds. This case remains under investigation.”

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