Neighbors worry Rosewood murder might spur reprisals

See what officials say about this murder on the edge of outer East Portland, in the Centennial neighborhood …

Police arrive in the Rosewood district after callers to 9-1-1 report a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

While neighbors were enjoying the pleasant Memorial Day weekend weather in Centennial neighborhood, shots rang out on May 25 at 7:59 p.m., and a man dropped to the pavement of the parking lot at the Springtree Apartments, at 650 SE 162nd Avenue.

First arriving Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers found the badly injured man in the parking lot.

Paramedics arrive at the scene, but the victim died near where he was shot.

“Officers requested medical assistance, but the man died at the scene,” reported a PPB spokesperson.

After lifesaving measures failed, officers taped off the crime scene, as detectives from the PPB Homicide Division and criminalists from the Forensic Evidence Division came to begin the investigation.

This photo, provided by his family, is of the deceased – 18-year-old Lorenzo C. Gordon – said to be the youngest of four siblings, whom some called “Bubba”.

The following day, the Oregon State Medical Examiner identified the deceased as 18-year-old Lorenzo C. Gordon, with the “manner and cause of death” listed as “homicide by gunshot wound”.

The apartment complex property manager told reporters that, as far as is known, no one who lived there was involved with the homicide.

“He was trying to get his life working better. Lorenzo was in the inner Southeast Portland ‘Youth Progress’ program, but dropped out of it a while ago,” remarked a friend, who asked not to be identified – adding that Gordon had been looking for “a stable place to live”.

As the murder investigation continues, neighbors wonder if more violence will come out of from this shooting.

“What I’m wondering is if this is going to spark off a bunch of ‘revenge shootings’ out here,” said neighbor Dale Watkins. “We see what looks like gang violence out here all the time; and, although the police seem to pretend it’s not happening anymore, it sure is,” he told East Portland News.

Other than to ask anyone with information on the case to call Detective Rico Beniga at (503) 823-0457 or rico.beniga@portlandoregon.gov, police officials have provided no suspect information, and say they have no further comment regarding this case at this time.

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