PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The name of the 18-year-old girl who died after a shooting left six other people injured in downtown Portland on Saturday morning has been released.
Portland Police say Makayla Maree Harris was shot and killed on SW 3rd Avenue around 2 a.m. Saturday.
No one has been arrested for the shooting, and no suspect information has been released.
A witness to the shooting recalled hearing gunfire.
“Next thing we know people were running that way. And it went so fast. Less than five minutes we saw people in the back, hurt,” Fili Verto said.
The owner of the Portland Outdoor Store said he found shell casings on the street after the shooting.
“World War Three. Looked like a warzone. Shells everywhere,” Brad Popick said.
Dispatch audio from that night says people calling 911 reported that an “entire crowd was shot into.”
Police Chief Chuck Lovell said there may be other victims who left on their own. He called on anyone who witnessed the incident or had cell phone video or photos of the area before, during and after the shooting to contact police. No arrests have been made.
“We all want to know what happened and who did this and why, and I pledge that more information will come out as soon as possible. Investigators think there might be more victims and witnesses who left the scene, which is understandable given how terrifying and hectic that scene was,” he said.
Other downtown business owners said crime like Saturday’s shooting can have an impact on them.
Dan Lenzen owns Dixie Tavern in the Entertainment District, just blocks from where the shooting occurred.
He said his bar is finally seeing crowds return as pandemic rules have been lifted, but it’s important his customers feel safe.
“Police detail works. We know that the street closure works. We know a lot of things work for large crowds. By defunding that, it caused those to be removed and of course we are pushing to get those things back because we know they work.”
Lenzen said he’d like to see more police officers in the entertainment district and that defunding the police bureau is creating more opportunities for crime.
After the shooting Saturday, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he’s pushing for more police resources and officers.
Police Chief Chuck Lovell said officers from the East and North Precincts would provide additional patrols downtown.
Lenzen said he and other business owners are working with city officials on strategies to address downtown crime.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to immediately contact Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@portlandoregon.gov or 503.823.2079 or Detective Scott Broughton Scott.Broughton@portlandoregon.gov or 503.823.3774.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the Harris family.