Bloodshed, by violent people using guns, continues in Hazelwood, Argay Terrace, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods – with no word from elected officials about their ‘plan’ for reducing the shootings …
At one location after another, three days in a row, officer block off residential outer East Portland streets as detectives look into the first shootings of 2021.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
During a press conference on August 6, 2020, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler told reporters that he “absolutely believes” there needs to be some sort special effort or plan used by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) to “reduce gun violence”.
As violence by vicious people with guns continued to escalate, Mayor Wheeler requested a “plan” from PPB Chief Chuck Lovell by Christmas, which the Mayor’s Office has received. Yet still, no plan, program, nor team has been publicly revealed for reducing all the shootings in outer East Portland. CLICK HERE to read Chief Lovell’s comments, during a recent Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association meeting.
While elected officials fumble the formulation of “plans”, it was gunshots – not bells – ringing in the New Year in the streets of the Hazelwood, Argay Terrace, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods.
January 1
Man wounded in Hazelwood New Year’s Day shooting
Officers collect evidence at the scene of the first outer East Portland shooting of 2021, this one early on New Year’s Day.
PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched at 2:45 a.m., to SE 146th Avenue, about a block south of East Burnside Street, to investigate a “shots fired” call.
“Officers located a victim with serious [gunshot] injuries, and immediately offered medical assistance until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital by ambulance,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen. “No arrests have been made and no suspect information is being released at this time.”
If you have information about this case, please e-mail crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference Case #21-133.
January 2
Person shot inside Argay Terrace apartment
Many officers swarm a large apartment complex in along NE Sandy Boulevard after a person is reported to be shot in one of the units.
In this daylight shooting, PPB North Precinct officers were dispatched at 2:45 p.m. to the sprawling Images Columbia apartment complex along NE Sandy Boulevard near 134th Avenue, after reports of a shooting inside of a unit.
Responding officers found someone shot inside an apartment unit. “The victim’s condition is not being released; one person has been detained related to the case,” was all Sergeant Allen was permitted to reveal to the press about this case.
Anyone has information about this case is asked to contact Detective Scott Broughton at Scott.Broughton@portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-3774, or Detective Rico Beniga at Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0457.
January 3
Teen wounded in Powellhurst-Gilbert shooting
Once again, officers are summoned to a shooting – this time, once again, along SE 136th Avenue.
Pouring rain didn’t stop a shooter along a road that’s now well-known for shootings – SE 136th Avenue – in the Garden Park Estates apartments, just north of SE Powell Boulevard on January 3.
East Precinct officers were dispatched to the scene at 5:29 p.m., just a few yards north of a makeshift roadside shrine dedicated to a victim who died there on July 10 – and to another shooting incident on July 12. CLICK HERE to read about those gun incidents.
PPB officers, and a Forensics Division Crime Scene Investigator, mark and photograph the first of scores of spent bullet casings at the scene.
This officer stands near Evidence Marker #61, at the scene of the shooting.
Although he’d been at so many of these shootings in outer East Portland, one of the eight officers at the scene commented to East Portland News, “I’m still amazed when we see so many shell casings when we arrive at a shooting location.”
“Officers found evidence that more than 50 rounds had been fired, with two apartments and seven vehicles struck by bullets,” Public Information Officer Derek Carmon confirmed.
The full length of this apartment complex’s driveway is littered with spent bullet casings. Image courtesy of PPB
“A short time later, a 19 year-old male arrived at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, having been shot,” Carmon said. “Investigators are following up on this incident but no arrests have been made.”
If you have information about this shooting incident, e-mail crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference Case #21-2378.
© 2021 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™