As of this year, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has recorded 10 homicides. While this marks a decrease from the 18 homicides reported at the same time last year, it’s notable that seven of the current year’s killings occurred in March alone.
PPB Police Chief Bob Day stated that there appears to be no discernible pattern or connection among these homicides. The majority of the cases involve shootings, with one incident involving a fatal stabbing. A review of the locations of the March homicides reveals that they are not concentrated in any particular area. Chief Day emphasized that the department will continue to pursue investigations in hopes of making further arrests.
On the night of March 3, two men—Brandon Sotelo and Cedrell Washington—were shot and killed in separate incidents, one in north Portland and the other in the northeast. Less than a day later, another shooting occurred in north Portland, claiming the life of Shaud’e Hutchinson. An arrest has been made in Hutchinson’s case, while investigations into the shootings of Sotelo and Washington are ongoing.
The violence continued throughout March. On March 9, Kevin Rhinehar was shot and killed on East Burnside. On the 17th, Brianna Pardue was found dead from a gunshot wound on Southeast Harrison Street. Police have arrested 35-year-old Joshua Thielbar in connection with her death, charging him with second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm.
The following day, 17-year-old Junior Garza was discovered with a gunshot wound on Southeast 136th and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Lastly, on the morning of March 24, a man was found stabbed to death in a hotel on Northeast Airport Way; authorities have yet to identify this victim. Chief Day noted that, to date, only two arrests have been made in connection with these seven homicides.
