Outer East Portland continues to be hammered by shootings

UPDATED: Two additional shootings! Area residents are likely to be relieved that no one was murdered by a criminal with a gun in the last seven days – but shooting injuries did not cease in outer East Portland …

Portland Police Bureau officers arrive at a shooting at the 122nd Avenue TriMet Park & Ride station.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Although Portland’s Police Commissioner and Mayor Ted Wheeler hasn’t revealed the “plan to reduce shootings” he received at his request from Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Chief Chuck Lovell – the one delivered to his office back before Christmas – whatever it was, it looked, for a few days, as if it may have had a some effect.

But then, “Shots Fired” calls reignited and soared again.

During the past week Portland Police dispatched 82 “Shots Fired” calls; and again, more than half these were in outer East Portland. None this week resulted in a homicide – however, at least one shooting injury was reported – on Monday evening, January 25.

January 25
Woman shot in Hazelwood, at TriMet’s ‘Park & Ride’
After gunshots were reported at 5:45 p.m. on January 25 at the ‘Park & Ride’ lot, in the southeast corner of the intersection of 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street along the TriMet MAX Light Rail line, PPB East Precinct officers responded.

The officers did find evidence of gunfire, but didn’t find a victim or suspect. After gathering evidence and documenting what they discovered, they went on to other dispatched calls.

Officers arrive at a local hospital where the shooting victim was taken by private vehicle for treatment of her wounds.

“At 5:53 p.m. that evening, an outer East Portland medical center reported a female ‘walk-in gunshot wound’ victim coming in,” said PPB Public Information Officer Derek Carmon.

A total of eight PPB units were sent to that call – some going to the hospital, while others revisited the previous crime scene.

“Her wounds are non-life-threatening,” Carmon told East Portland News. “No arrests were made; but this case remains under investigation.”

Gunshots again ring out
After this, it looked like this would be a relatively calm week, with few shooting incidents – until January 27 – when, within 12 hours, five more documented shooting incidents took place over two days.

January 27 ~ 4:50 p.m.
Car and apartment hit struck by bullets in Wilkes

In the Wilkes Community Group neighborhood, police find evidence of gunfire. PPB Image

At 4:50 p.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a “Shots Fired” incident along NE Fremont Street near 159th Avenue.

“Officers confirmed that an occupied vehicle was hit with gunfire; and at least one occupied apartment was also struck by bullets,” recounted PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen. “However, there were no reported injuries.” This is Case No. 21-24790, if you can offer any information about it.

January 27 ~ 9:34 p.m.
Mid-street shootout in Mill Park

After this vehicle-to-vehicle shootout, just south of the Midland Regional Library along SE 122nd Avenue, officers don’t find victims or suspects – but they do locate evidence.

At 9:34 p.m. that evening, East Precinct officers were dispatched to another “Shots Fired” call – this one along SE 122nd Avenue near Salmon Street.

“Witnesses described two vehicles driving northbound, where occupants appeared to be shooting at each other,” Sergeant Allen reported. “Some evidence was recovered at the scene, but there are no known injuries.”

January 28 ~ 3:00 a.m.
Bullets narrowly miss mom and kids in Hazelwood

Lots of bullet casings – and a gun – are found at the scene of this early-morning shooting. PPB Images

Another “Shots Fired” call sent East Precinct officers along SE 129th Avenue, a few houses south of East Burnside Street, where they found several parked cars had been struck by bullets shortly after 3 a.m.

“Officers located evidence of gunfire, and a gun was also found at the scene,” Sergeant Allen confirmed. “They checked area homes, and found at least one hit by bullets. It was occupied by a mom and her two kids, but no injuries were reported.” This one is Case No. 21-25144 if you have information to contribute about it.

UPDATE:
Information about two more shooting incidents came in, not long after we published this story.

January 28 ~ 7:33 p.m.
Child’s bedroom pierced by a bullet in Powellhurst-Gilbert

Officers discuss the bullet holes they located, a Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood home.

PPB East Precinct Officers were dispatched at 7:33 p.m. on January 28 on a “Shots Fired” call on SE Clinton Street near 84^th Avenue.

“One of the home’s occupants was on the front porch when the shots were fired by a passing car,” Sergeant Allen said.

Bullet casings litter the alley between houses on this residential street. PPB Image

After the officers confirmed that no one was injured inside, they discovered that at least four bullets had struck the residence.

Inside this child’s bedrrom a bullet smashed through this window, and also penetrated a closet door. PPB Image

“One of the bullets went through the room of a 3-year-old girl,” Allen said. “Fortunately, the girl was not in the room at the time, he added, noting that no suspect information is available.

If you have information about this shooting, it’s Case No. 21-25814.

January 28 ~ 7:42 p.m.
Bullet rips into Madison South hotel room

There’s little information available about this shooting, at a NE 82^nd Avenue of Roses motel.

Nine minutes after the previous call, at 7:42p.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched on another “Shots Fired” call, this time to the Evergreen Inn & Suites, located in the 3800 block of NE 82^nd Avenue of Roses.

“This shooting case involved an occupied hotel room,” Sergeant Allen reported. “The room was pierced with a bullet; but, no one in the room was injured.

This incident was assigned Case No. 21-25819.

You can help:
“These cases are under investigation,” assured Sergeant Allen. “Detectives are doing follow-up, gathering evidence, and looking for more witnesses; but, it’s critical that help comes from the community to address this ongoing, serious gun violence problem,” said, asking for assstance.

Using the case numbers provided, report any information you may know about any these cases to PPB Assault Detectives at calling 503-823-0400 or emailing to crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.

Shooting statistics updated
With his last update, Sergeant Allen added, “These mark 92 confirmed shooting incidents so far this year, including 27 non-fatal injury shootings.

There have been six shooting related homicides, which is five times the shooting related homicides in January, 2020,” he said.

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