NE Portland Shooting

Two men died, and another was severely injured in a shooting in Northeast Portland, Oregon, early Saturday morning on New Years Eve, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Just before 2 a.m. on New Years Eve, officers responded to the 4400 block of Northeast 131st Place. When officers arrived, they had found three men who had been shot, and only one survived the shooting. Sergeant Kevin Allen, an officer who responded to the incident, implies, “This is certainly a shocking way to start the year.” 

Police have also added that they have not made any arrests or suspect information. The names of the victims have not been released publicly yet. Allen also said 2021 had a record of many shootings, the data shows that there were nearly 1,300 shootings within 2021. One of those, 69 people died. “It’s a shocking number,” Allen said. “It’s a terrifying number.” 

The gun violence that happened on New Years Eve, had caught the attention of multiple activists. Rev. Mark Knutson of Augustana Lutheran Church said that shootings in Gresham and Portland is disheartening. He is also the chair of Life Every Voice Oregon, which is an anti-gun violence activist group. Lit Every Voice has until July 8 to get 140,000 signatures on their petition for their initiatives to be put on the ballot. Knutson is very confident he will reach his goal. He reminds people that when victims get shot on the streets, it’s someone’s child, and to speak out and stop violence.