The Portland Police Bureau has confirmed that 38-year-old Anthony Dwayne Bell, who was shot while driving in Northeast Portland, died on Wednesday, five days after the incident. Initial reports had indicated that his injuries were not life-threatening.
The shooting occurred on Friday, October 4, shortly before 5:45 p.m. A North Precinct officer, en route to another emergency, was flagged down regarding a traffic crash at the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers discovered that Bell had been shot while behind the wheel, leading to the crash. Emergency medical personnel transported him to the hospital with serious injuries, although he was conscious and able to speak when police arrived at the scene.
The Enhanced Community Safety Team, one of two specialized units addressing gun violence in Portland, was dispatched to investigate. Preliminary findings revealed that Bell was shot by someone in another vehicle, which then fled the scene before police could apprehend the suspects. At this time, no arrests have been made, and police do not have any suspect descriptions to share.
In their initial communications, the Portland Police Bureau noted that there was a passenger in Bell’s vehicle who was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures after the airbag deployed but was otherwise unharmed.
Tragically, on Wednesday, Bell succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The Multnomah County medical examiner later confirmed his death as a homicide resulting from gunshot wounds. Authorities have since notified Bell’s family of his passing. The case has now been handed over to the homicide unit of the Portland Police Bureau, which is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
