PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that in the first 18 days of February 2021 his office initiated 26 individual gun violence-related cases.
“Like prosecutors across the country, I am surging our resources in the district attorney’s office in response to the escalating gun violence occurring in our community. This is the most pressing public safety issue we face right now. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to stopping the violence by contributing our expertise to criminal investigations and prosecutions and prioritizing community-based interventions that will disrupt the factors leading to increased gun violence,” said District Attorney Mike Schmidt.
Two of the 26 cases issued in February 2021 are homicide-related investigations. Specific information on those cases cannot be released under ORS 192.345 (3).
Although some of the incident dates preceded the month of February, all 26 cases were initiated between February 1 and February 18, 2021.
| Primary Firearm Related Charge | Number of Cases (26 Total) |
| Assault in the First Degree with a Firearm – Constituting Domestic Violence | 1 |
| Attempted Aggravated Murder with a Firearm | 1 |
| Attempted Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm | 1 |
| Attempted Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm – Constituting Domestic Violence | 1 |
| Attempted Murder in the Second Degree with a Firearm | 2 |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm | 9 |
| Manslaughter in the First Degree | 1 |
| Murder in the Second Degree | 1 |
| Unlawful Possession of a Firearm | 3 |
| Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Constituting Domestic Violence | 1 |
| Unlawful Use of a Weapon with a Firearm | 5 |
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is providing a brief synopsis on three of the 26 cases.Attempted Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm
On January 27, 2021, Portland Police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a shooting in the 1800 block of Northeast Marine Drive. Officers arrived and located a person with a gunshot wound. Paramedics transported the victim to the hospital where police learned a bullet lodged in the victim’s spine. After talking with the victim, the 9-1-1 caller and reviewing surveillance video, detectives with the Portland Police Bureau determined the shooting occurred during a home invasion robbery. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office initiated criminal charges in this matter on February 3, 2021.Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Constituting Domestic Violence
On February 14, 2021, Gresham Police responded to a domestic disturbance involving a firearm in the Wilkes East Neighborhood. Officers learned the victim and her boyfriend were arguing in their bedroom. The suspect is accused of punching a hole into a door. After leaving the bedroom and then returning, the suspect picked up a firearm and pointed it toward the victim. During their investigation, Gresham Police recovered a 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds.Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
On February 12, 2021, Portland Police responded to a hit and run crash. Witnesses reported the driver and a passenger took off running after crashing into a tree. Officers tracked one of the individuals using the distinctive shoe prints left in the snow. Police located one of the two individuals and found him to be in possession of a loaded firearm. The person told police he was going to be selling the firearm to someone else.
The 26 cases were referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office from the Portland Police Bureau, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Port of Portland Police Bureau, and the Gresham Police Department.