A disturbance in Portland escalated into a suspect exchanging gunfire with police and a neighbor yesterday, after initially being detained and released earlier that day. According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers first responded to a call around 3:43 p.m. involving two men fighting in the street of Northeast 116th Avenue, but they found no victim and let the suspect go. Barely over an hour later, the same individual was reported to have fired a gun in a dangerous replay of events.
Despite the officers' clear from the first scene at 4:53 p.m., turmoil continued with the suspect returning to the street by 5:06 p.m., gun in hand, and discharging a shot. An on-duty Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, nearby at the time, rushed to assist the returning Portland officers. The report details how, sounding additional gunshots, the suspect stood in the middle of Northeast 116th Avenue and threateningly pointed his weapon at the uniformed officers. In the acted swiftly response, the MCSO deputy discharged his rifle, effectively disarming the suspect.
The injured suspect was given immediate trauma first aid by the officers before being transported to the hospital for treatment, with the severity of his injuries yet to be disclosed. Authorities confirmed that an automatic handgun was retrieved at the scene, its slide locked back, an ominous echo of the tension unwound.
While the threatened officers were unharmed, a fellow resident was not apprehended in the crossfire of gunshots with the suspect. The Portland Police Homicide Unit is leading an ongoing investigation into the affair, with assistance from the East County Major Crimes Team. Chief Bob Day and Sheriff Nicole Morrisey-O’Donnell both made appearances at the disturbing tableau. The subsequent investigation, still in its early stages, has included documenting property damages incurred during the gunfire exchange.
No arrests have been made, and the cooperative neighbor, another adult male who fired shots during the encounter, remained at the scene.
