Week #136 Shooting Report | NOW: INCLUDES VIDEO | UPDATED |Shootings continue in outer East Portland neighborhoods. But this week, three people die in gunshot murders. This, and our weekly “Shots Fired Log” below …
Officers and detectives attend to Portland’s first deadly shooting of 2023 – it takes place in our Hazelwood neighborhood – in broad daylight.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Having made it half way through January without a shooting homicide gave many people hope that there’d be fewer deaths from violent people using guns in the New Year. However, new statistics for deadly shootings in 2023 began on January 17.
January 16
Man killed in Hazelwood Shooting
The homicide investigation goes on into the evening, after a man is shot and killed at the 76 Gateway Fast Serv gas station.
On the national holiday, Monday afternoon, January 16, 24-year-old Amado Santos was at the 76 Gateway Fast Serv gas station, where he was reportedly employed – it’s on the northwest corner of NE 102nd Avenue and Glisan Street.
Unexpectedly, a bit after 2:30 p.m., gunshots rang out – and Santos dropped to the tarmac, between the building’s front door and the gas pumps. At 2:45 p.m., Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were dispatched to this “Shooting-with Weapon” incident.
Even though the victim didn’t die at the scene, a Multnomah County Medical Examiner comes to the scene to work with Homicide Unit detectives.
“Officers found a man suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound,” a PPB official disclosed. “The injured man was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”
The PPB’s Homicide Unit was called to the scene to assume control of the investigation.
Many people who live and work in the immediate area had good things to say about Santos to reporters, and no one seemed to have any idea why he’d been shot.
Although the shooting took place during the afternoon, watch, as this murder investigation continues, after dark:
So far, the PPB has not released any further information, including whether or not this incident had started as an armed robbery. Nor have the Portland Police revealed any information about the suspect – who is believed still to at large in the community.
The Medical Examiner confirmed 24-year-old Amado Santos’ manner and cause of death as “homicide by gunshot wound”.
A friend of the deceased shooting victim lights candles and incense on the sidewalk that evening, just outside the crime scene.
If you have any information about the incident and have not yet spoken with police, please contact Detective Tony Harris at tony.harris@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0441 – or Detective Shaye Samora at shaye.samora@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0768. If you call, be sure to reference Case No. 23-14764.
January 19
Apartment shooting in Cully leaves one man dead
Officers roll in after a man is shot, and found dead, at apartments on NE Prescott Street.
“On Thursday, January 19, a man has been shot and killed in the Cully neighborhood, and Homicide Unit detectives are investigating,” is how the PPB spokesperson reported this shooting.
At 11:47 p.m., PPB North Precinct officers were dispatched to a “Shooting-with Weapon” in an apartment building on NE Prescott Street near 42nd Avenue – at the Pennington East/West Apartments.
Upon arriving officers found a dead male. However, those responsible for the deadly shooting had left the scene before police arrived, and no arrests were made. Again, detectives with the PPB Homicide Unit were called in to investigate.
As of this time, no further details have been revealed. Have some information? If so, contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0889; or Detective William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0466. If you call refer to Case No. 23-18018.
January 20
Suspect arrested after man dies in Montavilla shooting
After an early morning shooting in Montavilla, officers find a deceased man – and a suspect.
At 2:04 a.m. on Friday, January 20, PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched on another “Shooting-with Weapon” incident – in the single-home residential area of the Montavilla neighborhood in the 8500 block of SE Taylor Street.
The officers found a deceased man at that location. “A male who was believed to be involved remained on scene, and no suspects are currently being sought,” a PPB official cryptically said.
Later that day, at 3:43 p.m., PPB Homicide Unit detectives booked 38-year-old Christopher Alan Grohs, into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Currently, Grohs is being held, without bail, now in Multnomah County Inverness Jail.
This man, 45-year-old Gregory Newman, has been identified as the victim in this shooting in the Montavilla Neighborhood.
On January 25, the victim in this case has was identified as 45-year-old Gregory W. Newman of Portland. The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined the cause of his death was a gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death was homicide.
If you have information about this one, please contact Detective Scott Broughton Scott.Broughton@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-3774 or Detective Eric McDaniel Eric.McDaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0833. The case to refer to is Case No. 23-18085.
Top non-fatal shooting story of the week:
Worker ducks bullets during Plaid Pantry robbery in Powellhurst-Gilbert
After shooting at an employee at the Powellhurst-Gilbert Plaid Pantry store that shatters the front door, armed robbers run away, dropping stolen merchandise. Courtesy KOIN 6 News
Although it was dispatched as a “Burglary – Priority” – likely because of a “silent alarm” from the Plaid Pantry store on SE 122nd Avenue at Holgate Boulevard early on January 14, this incident turned out, more accurately, to be an armed robbery. Arriving officers found the glass front door had been shot out. They also spotted a trail of cigarette cartons – and cash – that the armed robbers had dropped while fleeing the store.
One of the robbers reportedly shot at the clerk. Fortunately, they missed.
However, the armed bandits did make their escape before officers arrived; and no arrests have yet been made in this case. If you have information about this one, email it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, and let them know it’s regarding Case No. 23-12479.
~ Shots Fired Log ~
The number of “Shots Fired” calls logged by police this week increased to 41. Officers do find “evidence of shooting” at some of these calls, but not at all of them.
January 11 [+ 5 in other areas]
23-10529 01/11/2023 at 23:22:17 8400 Block of SE LAMBERT ST
23-10549 01/11/2023 at 23:46:49 6800 Block of SE MALL ST
January 12 [+ 5 in other areas]
23-10580 01/12/2023 at 01:08:45 1800 Block of SE 82ND AVE
23-10583 01/12/2023 at 01:14:49 8400 Block of SE LAMBERT ST
23-10688 01/12/2023 at 06:11:41 13500 Block of E BURNSIDE ST
23-11048 01/12/2023 at 13:42:43 WB I84 FWY AT / NE 60TH AVE
23-11393 01/12/2023 at 21:06:41 2700 Block of SE 89TH AVE
January 13 [+ 4 in other areas]
23-11534 01/13/2023 at 00:46:26 14100 Block of SE DIVISION ST
23-11602 01/13/2023 at 02:40:09 4500 Block of SE 87TH AVE
23-12002 01/13/2023 at 15:12:37 11800 Block of SE MT SCOTT BLVD
23-12221 01/13/2023 at 20:41:22 1000 Block of SE 69TH AVE
23-12227 01/13/2023 at 20:51:27 13400 Block of SE FOSTER RD
23-12338 01/13/2023 at 22:57:26 1100 Block of NE 80TH AVE
January 14
23-12486 01/14/2023 at 02:24:31 14700 Block of NE COUCH ST
23-12547 01/14/2023 at 04:25:42 9800 Block of NE EVERETT CT
23-12594 01/14/2023 at 06:35:28 SE 122ND AVE / SE DIVISION ST
23-12770 01/14/2023 at 11:28:53 NE 122ND AVE / E BURNSIDE ST
23-13063 01/14/2023 at 18:01:48 3200 Block of SE 118TH AVE
23-13206 01/14/2023 at 21:19:49 SE CORA ST / SE 25TH AVE
23-13219 01/14/2023 at 21:34:57 1100 Block of NE 113TH AVE
23-13221 01/14/2023 at 21:36:58 NE 122ND AVE / NE SANDY BLVD
23-13238 01/14/2023 at 21:57:13 9600 Block of SE ELLIS ST
23-13245 01/14/2023 at 22:03:15 5200 Block of NE 57TH AVE
23-13230 01/14/2023 at 22:09:09 5600 Block of SE COOPER ST
23-13303 01/14/2023 at 23:16:43 12300 Block of NE SISKIYOU ST
January 15 [+ 7 in other areas]
23-13380 01/15/2023 at 00:45:32 4300 Block of SE 91ST AVE
23-13419 01/15/2023 at 01:47:00 10300 Block of SE FOSTER RD
23-13720 01/15/2023 at 11:35:00 3600 Block of NE 82ND AVE
23-13863 01/15/2023 at 14:52:16 9200 Block of SE YAMHILL ST
23-13971 01/15/2023 at 17:50:11 SE 64TH AVE / SE FLAVEL ST
23-14037 01/15/2023 at 19:39:05 4600 Block of SE 75TH AVE
23-14188 01/15/2023 at 23:11:33 12300 Block of NE SISKIYOU ST
January 16 [A quiet day!]
23-15148 01/16/2023 at 23:29:54 4000 Block of NE 130TH PL
January 17 [+ 6 in other areas]
23-15224 01/17/2023 at 02:18:23 10200 Block of SE ANKENY ST
23-15928 01/17/2023 at 19:26:31 8900 Block of SE POWELL BLVD
23-15984 01/17/2023 at 20:51:06 3900 Block of SE 104TH AVE
23-16006 01/17/2023 at 21:17:16 SE 74TH AVE / SE HENRY ST
23-16057 01/17/2023 at 22:33:04 8200 Block of NE SACRAMENTO ST
23-16064 01/17/2023 at 22:38:48 5300 Block of NE SKIDMORE ST
January 18 [+ 4 in other areas]
23-16166 01/18/2023 at 02:28:50 SE 153RD AVE / SE STARK ST
23-16169 01/18/2023 at 02:37:31 9100 Block of SE FLAVEL ST
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A safer Portland?
It seems that the City of Portland’s Safer Summer PDX program – an initiative that distributed $2.4 million in “Community Based Grants” to reduce “gun violence” – has yet to produce documented results.
Here’s a graph showing shooting incidents, produced by the Portland Police Bureau from January 2019 through November, 2022.
Statics released by the PPB on January 20 show:
- The 94 homicides in 2022 was a 6% increase over the previous year. Homicides were up 61% over the previous three years.
- Of the 94 homicides, 76 of the victims died by firearm, which was a 12% increase over the previous year.
- Last year there were 1,306 total shooting incidents, down 1% from the previous year. Total shooting incidents were up 48% over the last three years.
- The month with the highest number of total shooting incidents in last 3 years was March with 147.
- Investigators cleared [solved] between 8 and 18 shooting cases per month last year.
It has been 136 weeks since Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler eliminated the PPB’s Gun Violence Task Force in June 2020. Even with new plans, programs and units, deadly shootings continue to plague outer East Portland.
© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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