PORTLAND, Ore (KOIN) — A man described as a regular customer was shot to death inside Fantasyland, an adult store and smokeshop in Southeast Portland, following an altercation with another customer Sunday morning.
The shooting was reported around 10:25 a.m., police said in a release. The man was dead inside the business when officers arrived.
A Fantasyland employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told KOIN 6 News he knew the victim by name.
“He’s a regular customer here,” the employee said. “He comes here, like, every freaking day.”
The employee, who has worked at the store for 5 months, said the regular was killed a few hours before he arrived for his Sunday shift. The death and the aftermath were caught on the company’s surveillance video.
He told KOIN 6 News a fight broke out between the regular and another customer before the shots were fired inside Fantasyland.
“He just walked into the back arcade with some sketchy guy and one thing led to another. They started screaming at each other and, (expletive), he got shot.”
The employee said he’s seen patrons push or shout but never saw anything like what happened Sunday. Behind the store’s blacked out windows, he said, it’s usually pretty calm.
The investigation kept police at the store for most of the day.
“We’re closed for cleaning right now. It’s gonna be a bit of work,” the employee said. “We did see some blood back there. He (the suspect) tried to run out or something.”
Police have not yet said if there is a specific suspect.
On its Facebook page, Fantasyland bills itself as “one of the best adult entertainment stores in Portland.” The store at 5228 SE Foster is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The investigation is open and active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Portland police and reference case number 23-105084.
This killing marks the 25th homicide recorded in Portland in 2023. Of those, 21 have been from gunfire.