Shooting at Lloyd Center
PORTLAND – A young man was arrested for attempted murder and another teen accused of trying to start a riot after gunfire erupted inside the busy Lloyd Center Mall Wednesday night, police said. A fight between rival gang members broke out around 6:30 p.m. and escalated into gunfire, police said, while the mall was packed with Spring Break shoppers. No one was injured but people inside the mall said it was a terrifying ordeal. “Definitely a real gun,” said eyewitness Steve Flakus. “(He) fired three rounds, one at the guy he had an altercation with, then two into the crowd of people I was looking at shoes with.” Officers just happened to be very close by and quickly swarmed the mall. They broke up the fight and found two handguns. “Officers determined that a 19-year-old male subject was targeted by the shooter and that multiple gunshots had been fired. The Gang Enforcement Team was already on scene and began investigating this incident as gang-related,” explained detective Mary Wheat, a spokeswoman for the Portland Police Bureau. “It was pretty wild,” said John Rodriguez, who works inside the mall. “I was terrified for my life.” Three people were taken into police custody for questioning, according to Wheat. She said police later arrested a 17-year-old man on one court of attempted murder and a 16-year-old boy on one count of riot. Names have not been released since both suspects are minors. No one was injured in the shooting, which police believe was gang-related. The mall was busy with Spring Break shoppers when the shots rang out.
Two youths charged after Lloyd Center brawl and shooting
A 17-year-old stands charged with attempted murder and a 16-year-old was charged with rioting in connection with a gang-related fight and shooting Wednesday evening at Lloyd Center Mall. Portland Police Officers were flagged down by mall security around 6:30 p.m., who reported that a large group of youths were clustered near the Foot Action store, fighting and firing gunshots. Officers broke up the fight and eventually recovered two handguns. Three teen boys were detained by police after officers determined they had allegedly targeted a 19-year-old man. No one was seriously wounded, police said. Gang Enforcement Team investigators reviewed surveillance video, interviewed witnesses and then narrowed in on the 17-year-old as the shooter. He was arrested for attempted murder and the 16-year-old was charged with one count of riot.
Gang officers were already working in Holladay Park across the street from the mall at the time of the incident, a heightened effort to reduce any possible violence during spring break.
2 Teens Arrested In Lloyd Center Shooting
PORTLAND, OR – Two teenagers were arrested Wednesday night after a shooting at the Lloyd Center mall in northeast Portland. Officers said the shooting occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when a large group of rival gang members got into a fight outside the Foot Action store. Witnesses said the incident escalated quickly. “The guy took a swing at him, he took a swing back, guy takes out a gun and fires once then fires two more times,” said witness Stephen Flakus. “And it was like, what just happened?” Frightened customers were seen rushing out of the mall after the gunshots rang out. Witness Jake Shaw said he heard “about five shots” and saw a man run toward the exit. Police left the mall to pursue the gunman after receiving tips he had headed north. Eventually, three people were detained and two handguns were recovered in connection with the shooting. Officers said they were able to identify the shooter as a 17-year-old boy. They arrested him later in the evening on a charge of attempted murder. Additionally, one 16-year-old boy was arrested on a charge of riot. There did not appear to be any serious injuries from the incident. Sgt. Tony Passadore, who responded to the shooting, said the shooting could have been much worse. “It’s a life-or-death situation in the blink of an eye,” he said. Fox 12 photojournalist Chris Rhoads and reporter Sophie Soong were with Passadore for a police ride-along when they responded to the mall shooting. Rhoads captured one teenager being detained on camera.
Gang enforcement officers were already in the Lloyd Center area prior to the shooting Wednesday night. Northeast precinct officers have been working daily at Holladay Park in an attempt to reduce any possible violence during spring break.
Although two people were arrested, Passadore said many more people were involved in the fight and shooting.
