The North Portland overpass spanning I-5 is closed Friday after an apparent shooting was reported there. Evidence markers line the sidewalk as the investigation continues.
A shooting was reported at the Skidmore overpass, according to KATU. The person was not identified, but a detective told KATU the person was expected to survive.
Investigation Gets Underway
The investigation was getting underway at the scene. Beyond the available details, no official Portland Police statement has been made public, and the station says it has reached out to police for more information and will update the story as new details emerge.
No suspect information, arrest details, or account of how the shooting unfolded has been confirmed. The duration of the overpass closure also remains unclear as officers continue their work at the scene.
A Span With a Painful History
The Skidmore overpass carries weight in North Portland well beyond Friday's incident. It is the same span where a Portland police officer shot and killed 21-year-old Kendra James, an unarmed Black woman, in 2003, according to katu.com. On June 22, 2020, hundreds of Rose City Justice protesters marched from Jefferson High School through North Portland and stopped on the overpass for speeches, a demonstration tied to that history.
The available evidence does not establish any connection between Friday's shooting and the overpass's history involving James. This remains a developing story, and further details will be added as they are confirmed.
