Centennial Easter Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Wounded, Police Say

PORTLAND, OR — A teenager is dead and three other teens are hospitalized — one with life-threatening injuries— after a shooting Sunday night in the Centennial neighborhood, the Portland Police Bureau said. All of the victims are males.

The shooting happened near a gas station on the Portland-Gresham border.

Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said witnesses told detectives that the four had been standing around when a car pulled up and someone or some people in the car opened fire. The car then sped off.

East Precinct officers arrived around 8:45 p.m. after calls to 911 reported the shooting, in the 500 block of Southeast 162nd Avenue, according to police. Officers said they found one teen dead and three others wounded.

Gresham police arrived soon after.

The three surviving victims were rushed to area hospitals. One has life-threatening injuries, and the other two have non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Mayor Ted Wheeler responded to the shooting by releasing a video statement on Twitter.

After expressing condolences to the families of those were shot, Wheeler said that the city — both the communities and the government — need to do more.

"We have a shortage of investigators, officers, prosecutors and public defenders," he said.

"The problem requires the community working together, and it also requires increased attention and investments in public safety at the federal and at the state level."

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to questions about whether he has reached out to the surviving victims or to any of the victims' families. It also did not immediately respond to questions about whether the mayor would visit the neighborhood to meet with people.

Police have not released the name of the person who died or said if there are any suspects in the case.

The Portland Police Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting, which led to the temporary closure of Southeast 162nd Avenue between Southeast Stark Street to Southeast Alder Street on Sunday night.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Michael Greenlee at Michael.Greenlee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0871, or Detective Brad Clifton at Brad.Clifton@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0696.