PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) –- Three men were killed in two separate shootings about 5 miles apart from each other in Portland, according to police.
The first shooting was reported on Friday at 11:09 p.m. in the 7400 block of Northeast Glisan Street in the Montavilla neighborhood. The shooting happened outside the Hour Glass Pub. Officers located three gunshot victims. According to police, all three were transported to Portland hospitals. Two of the victims died and the third has non-life-threatening injuries.
The men who died were identified by police as Eric Jacob Takemoto, 30, and 42-year-old Anthony Michael Howard.
The suspected shooter, Robert Jermaine Richardson, was taken into custody, police said. the 21-year-old is being held at the Multnomah County Jail and will be arraigned Monday on 2 counts of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
According to court records, Richardson has a pending criminal case in Multnomah County. He was indicted by a grand jury on May 11, 2015 on charges of unlawful possession of cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon. Records show Richardson and two others were involved in a shooting on May 2.
Officers said the shooting appears to be gang related, and gang officers are assisting homicide detectives.
A short time later, at 12:37 a.m. on Saturday, officers got reports of another shooting outside the Pallas Club, located at 13639 Southeast Powell Boulevard. Officers arrived and found one man already dead from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as 45-year-old Maurice Anthony Gatson.
Police used a K-9 unit to search for the suspect but no one was located. A suspect description has not been released.
The Bureau’s Gang Enforcement Team also responded to help with investigating the Pallas Club.
Police have not said if they believe the two shootings are connected.
Several witnesses who took video or pictures may have left before talking with investigators, police said. Some of those pictures may have been posted on social media.
Anyone with information is urged to contact PPB Detective Mark Slater at 503.823.9319.Statement from the Mayor
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales released a statement regarding the shootings. It reads:
“My heart is with all of the families that have lost loved ones as we continue to experience a year of unprecedented violence here in Portland; gun violence is taking a terrible toll on our community. A gun violence crisis has been growing nationally and here in Portland. More than 800 ammunition cases have been recovered in 135 gang-related shootings alone, with domestic violence and other incidents adding to that grim tally.
“We all have a part to play in saying, ‘no’ to more violence: Join ‘Enough is Enough’ and the Community Peace Collaborative; alert the police when you see violence; and most importantly, support our brave law enforcement officers as they work day and night to prevent more gun violence from ripping apart our community.”KOIN’s Kohr Harlan contributed to this report.