‘Violent weekend’ leaves 5 dead on Portland streets

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — “I can’t remember another weekend that was as violent as this weekend,” Chris Gjovik said. That’s really something, since Gjovik is the Assistant Chief for the Portland Police Bureau.

Four people died in three separate shootings, and another person died from a stabbing. The crimes happened in different parts of the city and Gjovik said none of the deaths are connected.

It began Friday night when 20-year-old Asher Mendes was found shot to death at Sellwood Riverfront Park. The suspect remains at large.

Just before 8 p.m. Saturday, two men were killed near the Broughton Beach area, and again, the shooter or shooters are on the loose.

Late Sunday, a man was killed in the Rose City Park neighborhood. No arrests have yet been made.

Then in the early hours of Monday, a man — later identified as 73-year-old Kenny L. Housman — was stabbed to death in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood of Southeast Portland. A suspect in this stabbing was taken into custody, but was later released and not charged with a crime, officials said.

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

“Never hurt anyone,” Eakin said. “He was just a sweet, nice man.”

She knocked on doors in the area where he died looking for his dog. She said the residents in that neighborhood are afraid.

“The neighbors here are all scared. They’re all worried and they don’t feel safe,” she said. “I don’t know how it really could get any worse. This is as bad as it gets.”

Gjovik said the five homicide are “five too many. Even one of those community members being lost is too many. … This is well outside of the norm for Portland. As a member of our Chief’s office, I expect better. And I think everybody expects better of their community as well.”

He added a weekend like this instills fear in the community.

“And that’s something that we’re also trying to quell,” he said. “To respond, the police bureau is going to increase patrols in the spaces and open areas and be highly visible in the next week. We want to get ahead of violence before it occurs. And we want as many people out there as possible to stop the violence before it starts.”

As always, police officials ask the public to say something if they see something.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.

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