Week #82 Shooting Report | Astonishingly, one of the murders happened in broad daylight; two gunfire homicides were on the same day. Two more victims were injured in other afternoon drive-by shootings. And, the weekly ‘Shots Fired Log’ shows 52 incidents. Are you okay with your streets being turned into a deadly battlefield? Consider this horrifying trend and read our first-ever editorial, at the end …
Police investigate three gunshot homicides in outer East Portland, just three days apart. Two people were shot and killed in the Hazelwood neighborhood; another man was murdered in North Tabor.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In January, ten people died in shootings in Portland. All of these homicides were the result of shootings.
>> Read on to learn about this week’s tragic shooting incidents, and then check our ‘SHOTS FIRED LOG’ to see if there was gunfire on your street this week.
February 2:
One killed, one wounded, in an audacious daytime shooting in Hazelwood
Markers show where bullet shell casings litter SE Stark Street, after a daylight shooting.
The drizzly afternoon of February 2 seemed like most days for those who drove, bicycled, and walked along SE Stark Street, in the section of the well-used thoroughfare between Venture Park and SE 122nd Avenue.
But everything changed for those in the area that day, when a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting broke out a little before 4 p.m.
A PPB officer and sergeant stand guard where spent bullet casings are found, in the center of SE Stark Street, a few yards away from a Portland City Park, and near an elementary school.
Manuel Garcia Ortega told East Portland News: “I’d just parked on SE 119th [Avenue] coming to get parts for my leaf blower at Stark Street [Lawn & Garden store], when I heard many ‘bang, bang, pop, pop’ kind of sound – lots of them.
“A black truck crashed, just up the block, and a guy started ‘running like he was scared for his life’ [eastbound] in the middle of Stark Street — and a car was chasing him,” Garcia Ortega continued. “Then, I heard another ‘pop’, like a gun going off, up near the bank.”
Officers secure the area around the Honda Ridgeline that was shot at, and crashed.
The vehicle this witness was describing was an eastbound-facing black Honda Ridgeline 4WD which had stopped after ramming the curb – after crashing through a stout mail box post on the sidewalk of the westbound lanes of SE Stark Street.
The Honda’s airbags had fired off, and the driver-side window of the vehicle was shattered.
Officers spread out to interview witnesses to the shooting.
At 3:51 p.m., many Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers and members of the Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT) were dispatched to the shooting in the 11900 block of SE Stark Street.
Others were sent east, to the Bank of America branch on the southeast corner of SE Stark Street and 122nd Avenue.
As many as 29 units, and Portland Fire & Rescue Mill Park Station 7’s Engine and Ladder Truck companies – as well as four ambulances, and eventually a PPB Mobile Command Center – arrived as the investigation began.
In the vehicle, officers “located one deceased male with an apparent gunshot injury,” a PPB spokesperson disclosed.
Officers gather in the taped-off entrance of this outer East Portland Bank of America branch office.
Canvassing the area, officers find a shell casing in the street at the southeast corner of SE 122nd Avenue and Stark Street.
“Another victim, an adult male, was located near SE Stark Street and 122nd Avenue; he was taken to a local hospital by ambulance with injuries that are not believed to be life- threatening,” the police official stated. “The suspect or suspects left [the area] before police were called; and, no arrests have been made.”
In addition to the FIT squad, PPB Homicide Unit detectives came to assist with the investigation – which went on until about 11 p.m. that evening.
Into the night, SE Stark Street is closed between 117th and 122nd Avenues, while the murder investigation continues.
UPDATE: Shooting victim identified, other victim still hospitalized
Officials say that this man, 35-year-old Jeff A. Ramirez, was the man who died in this shooting. Family provided photo
In February 5, PPB officials identified the victim in this shooting as 35-year-old Jeff A. Ramirez, of Portland. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of death to be gunshot to the torso and ruled the manner of death to be homicide.
The second victim who was shot remains in the hospital.
This case remains under investigation. If you have information about this case, please contact Detective Rico Beniga at Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov | 503-823-0457; or Detective Scott Broughton at Scott.Broughton@portlandoregon.gov | (503) 823-3774 and refer to Case No. 22-31073.
January 30
Near Stark Street Viaduct, Man fatally shot in Hazelwood
Officers close down side streets in the Gateway District, after they find a fatally-shot victim.
PPB officers were dispatched, on January 30 at 1:46 a.m., to the 9600 block of SE Stark Street – that’s on the Interstate 205 overpass – for a “Shooting – with Weapon”.
When PPB East Precinct officers arrived, early that Sunday morning, they found scant evidence on the viaduct. However they did come across a dead man with apparent gunfire injuries about a block away, on SE Oak Street just east of 97th Avenue.
Detectives from the PPB Homicide Unit closed off SE 97th Avenue between Stark Street and East Burnside; as well as Oak Street between 97th and 99th Avenues, for their investigation.
On February 1, a PPB spokesperson divulged that the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office had identified the deceased as 35-year-old Dramane Griffin; and determined his manner and cause of death to be “homicide by gunshot wound”.
According to police officials, the suspect or suspects left the area before police arrived and have not been located; and, no arrests have yet been made in this case.
Can you provide information about this incident? If so, contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@portlandoregon.gov | 503-823-0889, or Detective William Winters William.Winters@portlandoregon.gov | 503-823-0466 and reference Case No. 22-27792.
January 30
Man shot, killed, in North Tabor neighborhood
As PPB Homicide Division detectives pull into the area, officers guard the crime scene where a man is found shot dead.
About 19 hours later, and less than 2.6 miles away from the Hazelwood shooting homicide, PPB North Precinct officers were dispatched at 8:30 pm. to a “Shots Fired” report near NE Couch Street and 52nd Avenue.
According to dispatch records, many neighbors called the 9-1-1 Center reporting hearing gunshots in this area – a block north of East Burnside Street.
Near the western dead-end of NE Couch Street, officers found a man deceased, apparently suffering from gunshot wounds. Again, PPB Homicide detectives arrived to investigate this fatal shooting.
UPDATE: Shooting victim identified
41-year-old Dustin W. Norton was identified as the man who died as a result of this shooting. Family provided photo
On February 4 a PPB representative identified 41-year-old Dustin W. Norton, of Portland, as the murder victim in the North Tabor shooting. The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined Norton died of homicide by gunshot.
Should you have information about this case please contact Detective Joseph Corona at joseph.corona@portlandoregon.gov | 503-823-0508, or Detective Jennifer Hertzler at jennifer.hertzler@portlandoregon.gov | 503-823-1040 – no Case Number is available.
Three additional shootings, with injuries, including two ‘drive-bys’, this week
Two additional daytime drive-by shootings injured people this week; officers investigated one of them in Powellhurst-Gilbert.
Also this week, PPB officers, and emergency medical first-responders, were called to two drive-by shootings in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood; one gunshot-wounded person walked into the hospital in the Hazelwood neighborhood.
January 28 at 12:47 p.m.
Noontime drive-by shooting injures one in Powellhurst-Gilbert
An individual was shot from a moving vehicle in the Safeway parking lot. That’s what we learned from PPB Public Information Officer Lt. Nathan Sheppard. “The victim made his way into the Safeway store [where employees applied pressure to stop the bleeding]; arriving officers applied two tourniquets to his leg; and he was conscious and breathing when taken to a local hospital.”
The PPB’s Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) investigated the incident; at this time, no arrests have been made. It’s Case No. 22-26349.
January 29 at 11:51 p.m.
Hospital Walk-in at Adventist Medical Center
It’s unclear how this gunshot wound victim got to the hospital’s Emergency Department. The patient was not cooperative with the officers who came to investigate. It’s Case No. 22-27709.
February 1 at 4:35 p.m.
Another Powellhurst-Gilbert drive-by shooting in Powellhurst-Gilbert injures one
In another daytime shooting, also along SE 122nd Avenue ten blocks north of the January 28 midday shooting at Holgate Boulevard, officers returned to investigate.
“A vehicle with two occupants was driving to the Plaid Pantry when they heard what sounded like several gunshots, and the passenger was hit by a bullet,” Lt. Sheppard informed. “The passenger was taken to a local hospital.”
The ECST also investigated this shooting; no suspects have been located at this time. It’s Case No. 22-29530.
>> If you can provide information about any of these shootings, please reference the “Case Number” when you email tips to crimetips@portlandoregon.gov; and please put “ECST” in the Subject Line.
~ SHOTS FIRED LOG ~
This week, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communication logged 52 “Shots Fired” calls this week; up from 42 calls last week. Law enforcement officers must investigate each and every report of gunfire at which they may, or may not, find evidence of an actual shooting.
January 26
22-24670 01/26/2022 19:49:34 11700 Block of SE BUSH ST
22-24722 01/26/2022 20:55:05 12800 Block of SE STARK ST
22-24816 01/26/2022 23:35:16 11900 Block of SE BOISE ST
January 27
22-03217 01/27/2022 04:24:53 16200 Block of NE EUGENE CT
22-24925 01/27/2022 04:49:52 1200 Block of NE 136TH AVE
22-25610 01/27/2022 18:06:04 2600 Block of SE 136TH AVE
22-25701 01/27/2022 19:49:18 7400 Block of SE OGDEN ST
22-25777 01/27/2022 21:50:55 SE 119TH AVE / SE DIVISION ST
22-25813 01/27/2022 23:02:55 12500 Block of SE HOLGATE BLVD
22-25840 01/27/2022 23:42:59 13600 Block of SE STARK ST
22-25872 01/27/2022 23:56:07 9500 Block of NE IVANHOE ST
January 28
22-26142 01/28/2022 08:54:23 9900 Block of NE SANDY BLVD
22-03410 01/28/2022 16:11:20 100 Block of NE 172ND AVE
22-26593 01/28/2022 18:15:04 13100 Block of SE GLADSTONE CT
22-03438 01/28/2022 20:46:00 NE 162ND AVE / E BURNSIDE ST
22-26706 01/28/2022 21:17:34 16700 Block of SE DIVISION ST
22-26713 01/28/2022 21:23:59 100 Block of NE 127TH AVE
22-26719 01/28/2022 21:35:37 1100 Block of NE 102ND AVE
22-26807 01/28/2022 23:59:50 SE 122ND AVE / SE GLADSTONE ST
January 29
22-26828 01/29/2022 00:28:12 4000 Block of SE 122ND AVE
22-03467 01/29/2022 00:58:01 SE 174TH AVE / SE POWELL BLVD
22-26945 01/29/2022 04:08:17 9700 Block of NE GLISAN ST
22-26946 01/29/2022 04:11:51 SE 92ND AVE / SE POWELL BLVD
22-27001 01/29/2022 06:50:53 14100 Block of SE HOLGATE BLVD
22-27531 01/29/2022 19:32:40 SE 84TH AVE / SE INSLEY ST
22-27534 01/29/2022 19:42:04 6200 Block of N MEARS ST
22-27554 01/29/2022 20:09:06 800 Block of SE 148TH AVE
22-27617 01/29/2022 21:35:58 NE 92ND AVE / NE THOMPSON ST
January 30
22-27766 01/30/2022 01:19:15 NE 100TH AVE / NE IRVING ST
22-27784 01/30/2022 01:44:50 6500 Block of SE REEDWAY ST
22-27792 01/30/2022 01:48:07 9600 Block of SE STARK ST
22-28566 01/30/2022 23:11:36 SE 92ND AVE / SE PARDEE ST
22-28565 01/30/2022 23:13:29 3500 Block of SE 92ND AVE
22-28571 01/30/2022 23:20:10 3900 Block of SE 122ND AVE
January 31
22-03745 01/31/2022 00:53:54 17600 Block of SE MAIN ST
22-28624 01/31/2022 01:11:39 400 Block of NE 76TH AVE
22-29113 01/31/2022 16:23:52 6900 Block of SE LONG ST
22-29151 01/31/2022 17:16:57 800 Block of NE 81ST AVE
February 1
22-29457 02/01/2022 00:55:37 13300 Block of SE KNAPP CT
22-29458 02/01/2022 00:57:27 SE 148TH AVE / E BURNSIDE ST
22-29474 02/01/2022 01:28:52 15600 Block of NE STANTON ST
22-29500 02/01/2022 02:36:38 NE 122ND AVE / NE RUSSELL ST
22-29509 02/01/2022 03:20:51 SE 150TH AVE / SE POWELL BLVD
22-29768 02/01/2022 10:59:15 SE HOLGATE BLVD / SE 136TH AVE
22-29791 02/01/2022 11:19:15 13500 Block of SE HOLGATE BLVD
22-30274 02/01/2022 19:58:58 7100 Block of SE MARTINS ST
22-30288 02/01/2022 20:29:21 NE 148TH AVE / E BURNSIDE ST
22-30315 02/01/2022 21:15:37 100 Block of SE 160TH AVE
February 2
22-4025 02/02/2022 01:27:15 SE 162ND AVE / SE STARK ST
22-30486 02/02/2022 01:28:02 800 Block of SE 139TH AVE
22-30598 02/02/2022 05:58:56 SE 92ND AVE / SE HOLGATE BLVD
Finally, an editorial …
In recent weeks, we’ve been repeatedly asked by readers why shootings, and shooting deaths, have dramatically increased over the past 18 months – especially during the governmental-mandated “lockdowns” due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Let’s take a look at how Portland’s elected officials have responded to this “public safety epidemic”, as some have put it:
- In June 2020, the PPB Gun Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) was disbanded by Portland’s Police Commissioner – Mayor Ted Wheeler – on June 9, 2020. Shootings and gunshot deaths increased immediately and dramatically.
- In August 6, 2020, Mayor Wheeler hinted the GVRT might be brought back “in some form” – sometime. Shootings and gunshot deaths increased.
- On February 19, 2021, Wheeler announced that the PPB’s Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) had been formed – not to head off shootings, but to investigate them. Shootings and gunshot deaths increased, and so did investigations.
- On June 4, 2021, our Mayor announced the formation of a Focused Intervention Team (FIT) – and, along with it, a “FIT Community Oversight Group” to watchdog it. Shootings and gunshot deaths increased.
- On January 19, 2022, PPB FIT officers “Roll Out” on duty for their first shift.
Please, don’t blame the brave, dedicated, overworked, understaffed members of the Portland Police Bureau – they don’t “make the rules”.
No, the policies and procedures under which they serve are handed down by the Portland Commissioner of Police, Mayor Ted Wheeler, with the approval of the Portland City Council.
And, the Portland City Council sets the budget for our Police Bureau.
Does it seem that Portland’s elected officials have neglected “doing what it takes” to keep the very few criminals, illegally possessing firearms, from rampaging through, and shooting up, our neighborhoods night and day?
Isn’t it time for you to do something about this?
As President Barack Obama said, shortly after his inauguration in 2009, “Elections have consequences”.
Consider the safety of you and your family as you vote in the upcoming May 17 Primary Election.
To see the candidates running for Portland City Commissioner No. 2 and No. 3 – including the incumbents – CLICK HERE for the official, scrupulously updated, City of Portland Elections Office Registry of City Candidates. At the least, get involved by learning about the candidates!
In the meantime, please kindly encourage your elected officials to support the work of the Portland Police Bureau by sending them a brief, politely-worded email:
- Mayor Ted Wheeler – mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov
- Commissioner Carmen Rubio – comm.rubio@portlandoregon.gov
- Commissioner Mingus Mapps – MappsOffice@portlandoregon.gov
- [Position No. 3] Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty – joann@portlandoregon.gov
- [Position No. 2] Commissioner Dan Ryan – CommissionerRyanOffice@portlandoregon.gov
Thank you.
© 2022 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
