Police in Portland, Oregon, are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and wounded two police officers on Monday night.
The suspect is described as a “Caucasian male in his mid-30’s with facial hair and who was wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes,” according to Fox News.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson stated the incident was “a stark reminder of the dangers of the job, the jobs that our officers go out every day to serve and protect our community, and we’re grateful for.” He also expressed concern for the injured officers, noting they are in stable condition and wishing them a speedy recovery.
The shooting occurred around 8:20 p.m. Monday after police responded to a report of a threat with a weapon call and located the suspect on Northeast Clackamas Street between Northeast 16th Avenue and Northeast 17th Avenue. The Portland Police Bureau said the suspect fired shots at officers, striking two of them. The injured officers were transported to the hospital by ambulance, treated, and their conditions are stable. The suspect ran off, prompting numerous officers to establish a perimeter with assistance from the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), Air Support Unit, PPB Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit, and K9 units.
Police have not confirmed whether any officers fired their weapons in response. Reports indicate one officer was shot in the leg and another in the arm and ear, though police have not verified these details. Nearly 90 police units responded Monday night, deploying all available resources to the scene.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day stated that investigators concluded the search for the suspect in the Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood early Tuesday morning but had not found him. Deputy Chief Chris Gjovik told residents: “I know the fear and uncertainty you’re feeling right now is very real… while we haven’t apprehended the suspect responsible, we have dedicated homicide detectives and officers assigned to this case, and we will pursue all leads.” Police continue to maintain a heavy presence in the area as they search for the individual.