“Violent weekend” leaves five dead on Portland streets

Ariel Iacobazzi and Tim Steele

12 mins ago

Two men were found shot to death at the Gleason Boat Ramp in northeast Portland, July 13, 2024 (KOIN)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – “I can’t remember another weekend that was as violent as this one,” said Chris Gjovik. This is really special because Gjovik is the deputy chief of the Portland Police Bureau.

Four people died in three separate shootings, and another person died in a stabbing. The crimes occurred in different parts of the city and Gjovik said none of the deaths were related.

It began Friday evening when 20-year-old Asher Mendes was found shot to death in Sellwood Riverfront Park. The suspect is still at large.

Just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, two men killed near Broughton Beach, and the shooter or shooters are once again at large.

A man was killed in the Rose City Park neighborhood late Sunday. No arrests have been made.

Then, in the early hours of Monday, a man was stabbed to death in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood of southeast Portland. A suspect in that stabbing has been arrested, officials said.

Jill Eakin, who told KOIN 6 News she is the stabbing victim’s second cousin, said he was a kind man who lived in Portland for a long time.

“Never hurt anybody,” Eakin said. “He was just a nice, kind man.” KOIN 6 News is waiting for police to confirm the man’s name.

She knocked on doors in the area where he died, looking for his dog. She said residents in that area were scared.

“The neighbors here are all scared. They’re all worried and don’t feel safe,” she said. “I don’t know how it could get any worse. It can’t get any worse.”

Gjovik said the five killings were “five too many. Even if one of these community members is lost, that’s too many. … This is way outside the norm for Portland. As a member of our police chief’s office, I expect more. And I think everyone expects more from their community.”

He added that a weekend like this instills fear in the population.

“And that’s something we’re trying to stop as well,” he said. “In response, police will be increasing patrols in public areas over the next week and will be highly visible. We want to forestall violence before it happens. And we want as many people as possible to stop violence before it starts.”

As always, police officers are asking the public to report if they see anything.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.