At least nine people were struck or otherwise injured by gunfire in Portland in one night, leaving one dead and several hurt. Preliminary tally shows that PPB members recorded 382 confirmed shootings this year to date, and 120 people have been hurt or killed by gunfire (not including suicides). Of the 34 homicides in the City of Portland this year, 30 have been shootings.
Portland Police Detectives from the Homicide Unit, Enhanced Community Safety Team and others in the Detective Division are actively investigating and consider all gunfire aimed at Portland community members to be attempted murder cases.
Last year around the same time, there had been 528 confirmed shooting incidents and 166 injured or killed. The homicide count was 37 at this time last year, including 35 shootings. The Focused Intervention Team (or FIT), and patrol officers from North, East, and Central Precincts responded to the shootings.
Some of those shot as outlined in the case below, refused to cooperate. Eyewitnesses become even more important in addition to video evidence. The cases sent to the media is as follows:
-On Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:18p.m., Central Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of shots heard in the 900 block of Southeast 33rd Avenue in the Sunnyside Neighborhood. Officers checked the area and did not locate any victims or evidence of gunfire. At 10:50p.m., officers learned that a victim walked into a hospital with an apparent gunshot wound that was not life-threatening. The victim refused to say where the shooting took place. Officers investigated and found a crime scene in the 3300 block of Southeast Belmont Street. No arrests were made.
-On Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 12:04a.m., North Precinct officers responded to a report of a shooting in a bar in the 1400 block of Northeast Broadway in the Lloyd District Neighborhood. When officers arrived they located three victims with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers performed trauma first aid on the one adult male and two adult female victims, including applying tourniquets. Paramedics arrived to take over advanced care. All three were transported to the hospital by ambulances with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.
-At 3:28a.m., East Precinct Officers were dispatched to Portland hospital on a report of a victim checking himself in with a gunshot wound. The victim was not cooperative and refused to say where he had been shot. Officers, through investigation, located a possible crime scene in the 8600 block of Southeast Foster Road in the Lents Neighborhood. No arrests were made. (23-125733)
-At 3:34a.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 6500 block of Northeast Killingsworth Street in the Cully Neighborhood. When they arrived they found three injured people. EMS responded to the scene to treat the victims. One adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Two others suffered minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital. (23-125743; see related press release here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=492877
-At 5:43a.m., officers were dispatched to the 170 block of Southeast 146th Avenue in the Hazelwood Neighborhood on a report of multiple shots fired. Officers located an adult male victim, who had some injuries to his neck. He was evaluated by paramedics but declined ambulance transport. Officers determined that a suspect fired through the victim’s apartment door. Evidence of gunfire was located. No immediate arrests were made. (23-125790)
FIT is a bright spot on these cases. The group work to help prevent gun violence. But, it also build relationships with community members and proactively deter violence consistent with their mandate. Many residents have high hopes for FIT which overseen by a group of community volunteers known as the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group, or FITCOG. The FITCOG commenced in June 2021 and assist with recommendations to reduce gun violence through prevention, intervention, and response.
