A stretch of Northwest Naito Parkway in Portland was shut down Tuesday night after police responded to reports of a shooting between the Steel and Broadway bridges. Officers were called to the 600 block of the roadway as investigators worked the scene.
A man was shot in an officer-involved shooting, though police had not released what led up to it.
A Stretch of Roadway With a Troubled History
This is not the first time this exact corridor has drawn a heavy police response. In May 2025, officers responded to reports of shots fired near the Steel Bridge in Old Town and found an adult male dead in the street, according to OregonLive. In that case, the suspect had left the scene before officers arrived, and no immediate arrests were made, the outlet reported. Police shut down Naito Parkway in both directions between Northwest Everett Street and Northwest Ironside Terrace while they investigated.
The area has also seen other incidents that drew police attention without any established link to Tuesday's shooting. Portland police separately investigated an assault just north of the Steel Bridge, with officers called to the scene shortly after 6 p.m., according to KATU. No arrests had been made at the time of that report, and police said there was no indication the assault was connected to CityFest.
City Leaders Weigh Anti-Violence Efforts Amid a Falling Shooting Count
Zooming out, Portland has actually seen fewer shootings this year than last. KATU reported the city had recorded 196 shootings so far in 2026, a 21% decrease compared with the same period the previous year. Portland city leaders discussed efforts to reduce gun violence during a recent public safety meeting, the outlet reported.
Part of that discussion centered on the city's Ceasefire Program, which officials say aims to reduce shootings, prevent retaliation and increase public safety. Councilor Steve Novick said officials plan to track both overall shooting statistics and outcomes among individuals identified as high risk in order to assess whether the program is working, per the same KATU report.
For now, police have not released what led to Tuesday's shooting on Naito Parkway. Police arrested and booked Joshua Lyle Merritt after the shooting.
