A southeast Portland apartment building had an uninvited intruder Monday evening: a stray bullet that punched straight through a wall. By some luck, no one was hurt.
Just after 6 p.m., officers headed to the 17300 block of Southeast Naegeli Drive after reports of gunfire. Neighbors told police they heard shots coming from more than one unit in the complex, and responding officers quickly detained a man at the scene, according to police.
According to KPTV, officers discovered that at least one bullet had pierced the drywall of an apartment, and additional rounds appeared to have come from a neighboring unit. The suspect, identified by police as 31-year-old Ravel Dave Puni, stepped out of the adjacent apartment and was taken into custody without any reported injuries to bystanders. He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on counts described by local reporters as unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm within city limits.
What the Charges Mean
Under Oregon law, intentionally firing a gun inside city limits falls under the unlawful use of a weapon statute, which is classified as a Class C felony. Recklessly endangering another person is charged separately under ORS 163.195 and is typically treated as a Class A misdemeanor. The statutes spell out the specific elements and potential penalties, and it will be up to prosecutors to decide how to move forward based on the evidence; see Oregon Public Law and Oregon Public Law for the statutory language.
Neighborhood Context
The 17300 block of SE Naegeli Drive sits at the edge of East Portland’s Centennial neighborhood, an area that has seen its share of gun violence in recent years. In 2023, KPTV reported a double-fatal shooting on nearby Naegeli Drive, a grim reminder that this stretch of outer Southeast has been on law enforcement’s radar before.
Police Follow-Up
The Portland Police Bureau has not yet released additional details about the investigation or whether formal charges have been filed by prosecutors. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the bureau through its non-emergency line or by using the online tip portal, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Media outlets seeking updates are directed to the bureau’s Strategic Communications Unit.
