Man killed while protecting his truck in Safeway parking lot

SHOOTING REPORT | Here’s what’s been revealed about this shooting in the Roseway neighborhood. And, the next day, police officers wake a man, napping in his car, in a major intersection – holding a loaded gun in his lap …

After a shooting murder takes place in this parking lot, police officers cordon off the area as the homicide investigation begins.

By David F. Ashton

Although stabbing incidents appear to be on the rise, shootings decreased so far this summer across outer East Portland – and thankfully so.

However, there were two gun-related incidents that took place this week.

July 18
Man killed in parking lot shooting

More than a dozen police officers rush to the scene after a shooting homicide.

Witnesses told reporters it appeared that a person was breaking into a work van parked in the Roseway Safeway lot, at NE 70th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard on Friday, July 18, around 3:45 p.m.

Those who saw the apparent burglary say they then watched as a man ran toward the van – then they heard gunshots ring out, and saw him stagger and fall face forward onto the pavement.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) North Precinct officers who were dispatched to this shooting pulled up shortly afterward.

It was at this work van where the shooting took place, witnesses say.

“When Officers arrived, they found an adult male dead outside a vehicle,” PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen told reporters.

“One person has been detained by police pending further investigation – and that person was not injured, but was taken to the hospital by ambulance for a medical evaluation,” he said at the time.

Officers focused heavily on a white work van in the parking lot, surrounded by red tape. The PPB has yet to confirm the account of the witnesses – also said that police officers told them that the person who pulled the trigger called 911 and admitted to doing the shooting.

Secured to a gurney, a “person of interest” is rolled to a waiting ambulance.

Typically, the PPB identifies the gender of a person detained (and in this instance, later arrested) – but that wasn’t the case with this suspect, 41-year-old Ashe Isador Sarethi, who was first medically evaluated, and then was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 10:28 p.m. that evening on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

Upon checking MCDC records, the suspect, 6 ft. 2 in., 265 lb. Sarethi entered their system as a female. Currently Sarethi is being held on the homicide and weapon charges, without bail.

Investigators photograph the murder scene.

Victim identified
On July 25, the PPB identified the victim as 42-year-old Jasen E. Fitzsimmons. The medical examiner determined he died of homicide by gunshot.

If you have information about this homicide, contact Detective Brent Christensen at Brent.Christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-2087 or Detective Samantha Cater at Samantha.Cater@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-9319 and reference Case No. 25-192079.

This was the 20th homicide of the year. But for perspective, that’s down from 44 in 2024.

Images courtesy of KGW-TV News 8

July 19
Passed-out driver in Sumner, with gun, arrested on NE Sandy Boulevard

Several police officers work outside of the suspect vehicle, which is bracketed by police cars. PPB image

In the Sumner neighborhood, a driver – passed out at the wheel of his 2017 Honda Civic, with a loaded pistol in his lap – caused police officers considerable concern on Saturday morning, July 19.

At 4:48 a.m., PPB North Precinct investigated a report of an unconscious driver in the intersection of NE Sandy Boulevard at 82nd Avenue of Roses – but he wasn’t parked! As they arrived, his car was slowly rolling into the intersection.

First arriving officers positioned their vehicles in front and behind the vehicle to stop it from rolling, and to give them a chance to assess the driver’s medical condition. As they approached the car, they saw a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine lying in the driver’s lap.

Other officers were called in to close the intersection entirely; then one officer called out to the driver over the patrol car’s PA system. It took about 10 minutes for the driver to come to – but then, he cooperated with police commands. With the situation deescalated, the suspect was arrested without incident.

This is the ‘Glock 9’ 9mm semiautomatic pistol officers took from the driver, along with the extended magazine with ammunition. PPB image

A loaded firearm with a 26-round extended magazine inserted into it was recovered from the vehicle. Because it was unlawfully possessed, it was seized as evidence. The car was towed as a hazard.

Officers arrested 20-year-old Leonardo A. Gomez-Hernandez of Vancouver, Washington, who was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 7:02 a.m. that morning on Misdemeanor charges of Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Unlawful Possession Loaded Firearm in Public.

After his arraignment that morning Gomez-Hernandez was released from custody, without needing to post bail, that same day. Release Reason: Released on Own Recognizance.

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