Portland police responding to a call of a man with a gun Friday morning in Lents Park fatally shot the man after he drew what appeared to be a firearm, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. The man died at the scene.
Investigators recovered what appeared to be a replica firearm with an orange tip on it, the sources said. A witness videotaped the shooting and provided the footage to police.
Police had received multiple calls about the man in the park with a gun shortly after 9:30 a.m.
Two officers who confronted the man fired less-lethal, 40-millimeter munitions at him, and an East Precinct officer shot him with a firearm, Acting Chief Chris Davis said.
snip============================================================================
Todd Littlefield, who lives nearby, said he went to the park after he heard gunfire. “I was just getting in my truck, and I heard a loud shot,” he said. Littlefield said he drove to the park and saw several officers standing behind trees and their cars, ordering a man to show his hands.
Juan Chavez, an attendant at the nearby AM/PM convenience store, said he saw a man standing in the middle of the intersection of 92nd Avenue and Holgate Boulevard prior to the shooting.
The shirtless man had his arms up, was blocking traffic and appeared to be disoriented and banging on cars, according to Chavez.
Chavez said police arrived, the man entered the park and he later heard two gunshots.
snip==============================================================================
Several sources confirmed to the newspaper that the victim in this case was a white man in his 30s. Investigators had yet to identify him Friday night, according to sources.
Lents Park, where Friday’s shooting occurred, is within an area served by Portland Street Response — a pilot program that aims to provide a non-police response to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or homelessness.
[Deputy Police Chief Chris] Davis said the response team would not have been called in for Friday’s shooting because the initial call involved a weapon.
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/04/officers-responding-to-police-shooting-in-se-portland-park.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
