- A protest against police violence was just getting underway when he shooting took place.
- Last year saw record-high numbers of shootings and 90 homicides in Portland.
- Authorities blame blame gang-related arguments, drug deals and disputes among homeless people for the increase in shootings.
A shooting rampage in Oregon that left a Portland woman dead and five people wounded started with a confrontation between an armed homeowner and armed protesters, police say.
Officers responding to reports of a shooting Saturday night discovered the woman’s body and rushed the wounded – two men and three women – to area hospitals.
“The scene was extremely chaotic, and a number of witnesses were uncooperative with responding officers,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement. “Most people on scene left without talking to police.”
A protest against police violence was just getting underway near the city’s Normandale Park when the confrontation began, authorities said. Such protests have become a recurring theme in Portland, a center for the national movement to defund police since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police in May 2020.
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Police spokesman Lt. Nathan Sheppard declined to reveal whether any arrests had been made or how the shooting unfolded. Detectives said they believe a “large number” of people witnessed what happened and possibly recorded the incident as it unfolded.
“This is a very complicated incident, and investigators are trying to put this puzzle together without having all the pieces,” the statement said. Police are asking that anyone with information or video from the scene provide it to the investigating officers.
Mayor Ted Wheeler acknowledged in a tweet late Sunday that many details remained unclear.
“We do know one thing for sure – our community is dealing with the sadness of another senseless act of gun violence,” he said.
Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty echoed the sentiments, calling the shooting “heartbreaking.”
“While we need more information about what transpired, I can say that protesting for racial justice should never endanger those exercising their 1st amendment rights,” Hardest tweeted.
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Portland, like many major cities, has been struggling with increased gun violence. Last year saw record-high numbers of shootings and 90 homicides in Portland. The previous record was 66 homicides. And shooting incidents in January 2022 outpaced January 2021, according to police data.
Police and city officials say the violence has been most damaging in the Black community. They blame gang-related arguments, drug deals and disputes among homeless people. The situation was exacerbated by the pandemic, economic hardships and mental health crises.
Contributing: The Associated Press
