Learn why a “shots fired” dispatch brought officers to an outer East Portland block where neighbors saw a lot of bullet casings in the street …
Here’s what it looked like in the 7200 block of SE Duke Street – officers, patrol vehicles, and evidence markers in the roadway – at the Sunday evening investigation in outer East Portland.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Portland Police Bureau officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the 7200 block of SE Duke Street on Sunday evening, August 9, at 6:52 p.m. – after Bureau of Emergency Services dispatchers received calls – not about actually having heard any shots, but about a lot of rifle shell casings found in the street.
Officers cordoned off the area near a triplex on the north side of Duke Street, about a half-block east of 72nd Avenue in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood. Four officers concentrated on the area as they documented the evidence and spoke with people in the area.
Portland Police Bureau officer walks past the cluster of evidence markers in the 7200 block of S. E. Duke Street checking for damage – or for a shooting victim.
Near the north edge of the street clusters of bright yellow evidence markers showed where cartridge casings had been found. These markers made it look as if multiple shots had been fired, even though the incident was handled as a “shots fired” call rather than a confirmed shooting.
Neighbors stepped outside to watch the investigation, voicing concern over presumed gunfire on their normally quiet block, although apparently none had heard any – they just found the spent casings. Some questioned why only a handful of officers were present for what appeared to be a serious incident, given the number of casings visible in the street.
This tight grouping of bright yellow evidence markers sits near the north edge of SE Duke Street, marking where rifle cartridge casings are found.
Portland Police Bureau Public Information Manager Mike Benner later told THE BEE East Portland News that officers were dispatched after someone discovered more than ten rifle shell casings in the area. “Officers collected the casings, and canvassed the area for property damage or video and did not locate any,” he said.
According to Benner, that search did not turn up damaged vehicles, bullet strikes on nearby homes, or any video footage tying the casings to a specific time or suspect. He added that investigators did not find any shooting victims, and there were no reports of injuries connected with this incident. No arrests were reported at the scene.
Along this normally quiet block, officers speak with residents as they investigate a “shots fired” call outside a triplex on the north side of S. E. Duke Street.
He noted that investigators did not locate any shooting victims, and there were no reports of injuries connected with this incident. No arrests were reported.
If you have information about this possible crime, and haven’t yet spoken with investigators, contact the Portland Police Bureau and reference Case No. 26-232194.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
