On Tuesday evening, two teenagers were injured in a shooting in the Mill Park neighborhood, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. At approximately 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance call in the 1900 block of Southeast 117th Avenue, near Mill Park Elementary School. Upon arrival, they discovered two teenage boys who had been shot. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital and are expected to recover.
Investigators indicated that the incident involved two groups who met to resolve an “issue,” during which gunfire erupted. Officers located several shell casings in the 11000 block of Southeast Market Street. As of now, no suspects have been identified, and police have not released any details regarding potential suspects. The investigation remains ongoing.
In a separate operation over the weekend, the Portland Police Bureau, in collaboration with partner agencies, initiated an online mission aimed at targeting adults attempting to exploit children. During this operation, Justin Larson, 38, and Jesse Pitre, 35, arranged to meet what they believed were minors with whom they had been communicating online. Upon their arrival, they were apprehended by police officers.
Both suspects face serious charges, including:
– Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree
– Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the Second Degree
– Attempted Rape in the Third Degree
– Attempted Sodomy in the Third Degree
Online child exploitation in today’s digital age typically occurs through various methods and platforms that take advantage of technology and the internet. Predators often use social media platforms to connect with children. They may create fake profiles to build trust and manipulate young users into sharing personal information or engaging in inappropriate conversations.
The dark web can be a platform for the distribution of child exploitation materials, where anonymity allows for illegal activities to occur with reduced risk of detection. Many children and even parents may not fully understand the risks associated with online interactions, making it easier for predators to exploit them.
